What's happened
On October 3, 2024, the UK announced it would cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, allowing the US to maintain its military base on Diego Garcia for another century. This decision follows decades of controversy surrounding the forced expulsion of Chagossians and the islands' strategic military significance.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Alex Woodward in The Independent, the UK and Mauritius have committed to ensuring the long-term operation of the US base on Diego Garcia, which plays a vital role in global security. Woodward notes that the agreement allows the UK to maintain oversight of the base for at least 99 years. Meanwhile, BBC journalist Alice Cuddy described the unique cultural blend on the islands, highlighting the military presence amid a tropical paradise. Cuddy's insights reveal the contradictions of life on Diego Garcia, where American and British influences coexist. Metro emphasizes the historical context, noting the shameful expulsion of Chagossians and the ongoing secrecy surrounding the islands. The Foreign Office's statement underscores the agreement's significance for national security and the welfare of Chagossians, indicating a complex interplay of geopolitical strategy and human rights.
How we got here
The Chagos Islands, particularly Diego Garcia, have been under British control since 1814. The UK detached the islands from Mauritius in 1965, leading to the expulsion of native Chagossians to establish a US military base, which has been a focal point of geopolitical tensions and human rights debates.
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More on these topics
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about 2,000 kilometres off the south-east coast of the African continent. It includes the eponymous main island of Mauritius and Rodrigues, Agaléga and St. Brandon.
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The Chagos Archipelago or Chagos Islands is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the Indian Ocean about 500 kilometres south of the Maldives archipelago.
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Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill was a British politician, army officer, and writer. He was the prime minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, when he led Britain to victory in the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955.
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The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Headquartered at Broadcasting House in Westminster, London, it is the world's oldest national broadcaster, and the largest broadcaster in the world by number of employees.
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The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.