Latest news with #MauritiusSovereignty
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
UK's Chagos deal puts spotlight on strategic contest in the Indian Ocean
Decades of dispute over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, rooted in colonial history and international legal challenges, have been addressed after the United Kingdom agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. Under the May 22 deal , the UK retains a 99-year lease on the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. Under British colonial rule, the island chain was separated from Mauritius in 1965, three years before Mauritius was granted independence. Around 2,000 Chagos residents were forcibly removed to make way for the building of the military base on Diego Garcia. In 2019, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued its 'advisory opinion' that the continued UK administration of the Chagos Archipelago was unlawful and should end 'as rapidly as possible'. The UN General Assembly subsequently passed a resolution affirming Mauritius' sovereignty over the archipelago. The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the deal as necessary to comply with international law and maintain strategic security interests. The deal includes a 24-mile buffer zone around Diego Garcia where nothing can be built without UK consent. It also prohibits foreign military and civilian forces from the Chagos Archipelago, with the UK retaining the power to veto any access. Mauritius hailed the agreement as a significant victory in its long-standing campaign to regain the Chagos Archipelago. Under the terms, the UK will pay Mauritius £101 million (US$137 million) annually to lease the Diego Garcia base for at least 99 years and establish a £40 million trust fund for the benefit of the Chagos community.
Times of Oman
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
India welcomes UK-Mauritius treaty on Chagos, reaffirms support for sovereignty
New Delhi: India on Wednesday welcomed the signing of a treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. In a press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India described the agreement as a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. "We welcome the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. The formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October 2024, and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order," the statement said. India has consistently supported Mauritius's legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago, reiterating its position on decolonisation, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The statement added, "India has consistently supported Mauritius's legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on decolonisation, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. As a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region." Earlier in March, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reaffirmed India's support for Mauritius on the Chagos sovereignty issue, stating, "We have supported Mauritius in its stance on its sovereignty over Chagos. And this is obviously in keeping with our longstanding position with regard to decolonisation and support for sovereignty and territorial integrity of our other countries. And its only fitting for us to articulate this support for partners such as Mauritius." Misri emphasised that India had made substantial contributions to Mauritius's maritime safety and security, and highlighted ongoing technical and development cooperation. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's previous visit to Mauritius, several agreements were signed on enhancing maritime security, technical cooperation, ocean observation, and capacity building. India has provided vessels and assistance for maritime surveillance, and supports a range of projects from infrastructure to education, health, and the blue economy. "These facilities have also been assisting Mauritius in its maritime surveillance and patrolling of its vast Exclusive Economic Zone and in safeguarding the assets of its blue economy ecosystem from traditional and non-traditional maritime challenges," Misri said.
