01-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Letter: Decision to give up Chagos Islands is self-sabotage
The UK government's decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is a disgraceful act of national self-sabotage.
It is, frankly, nothing more than woke virtue signalling dressed up as diplomacy.
The Chagos Islands were never part of an independent Mauritius, yet this government has chosen to ignore both historical fact and the voices of the Chagossian people, who were once again excluded from any meaningful consultation.
Even more insulting, we are paying Mauritius to take this vital strategic territory, and then paying again to rent it back.
Labour uses words like 'bought' or 'sold' to describe this arrangement - but what do you call it when you pay someone to take something valuable off you? That is what they've done.
This so-called deal could cost British taxpayers up to £30 billion over its lifetime - at a time when families are struggling, taxes are rising, and our armed forces are being stretched to their limits.
The government claims this is about 'righting a historic wrong,' yet all they have done is create a new wrong - ignoring the indigenous Chagossians, compromising UK security, and giving ground to a Chinese-aligned state in the Indian Ocean.
Let's be clear: this is a strategic asset of immense importance. particularly Diego Garcia, which is critical to both UK and US security. By transferring sovereignty to Mauritius, the UK opens the door to Chinese influence, which has been expanding across the Indo-Pacific.
This sets a dangerous precedent for other British Overseas Territories.
It sends a message that our sovereignty is negotiable, and our strategic interests expendable.
Starmer's government has not made Britain respected - they've made us a laughing stock.
