Keir Starmer has defended the government’s controversial decision to relinquish UK control over the Chagos Islands. This decision has ignited a political blame game among Conservative leadership candidates, each looking to distance themselves from the fallout.
Starmer stated that the agreement with Mauritius regarding the islands is crucial for securing the long-term future of the US-UK military base located on Diego Garcia, which he described as the “single most important thing.” The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of the military installation, stating that maintaining its operational status is paramount for both nations’ strategic interests.
However, critics of the agreement have raised concerns, arguing that the deal could pave the way for China to establish a military presence in the Indian Ocean. This has led to broader concerns regarding the future of other British overseas territories and their strategic importance in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
While Labour ultimately signed off on the final deal, the Conservative Party initially signaled openness to negotiations with Mauritius. Discussions regarding the Chagos Islands began under former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
James Cleverly, who served as Foreign Secretary then and is now a candidate for the Conservative leadership, initiated the talks with hopes of concluding them by the end of 2023.
Cleverly’s campaign has faced turbulence since Labour’s decision, creating a rift within the Conservative leadership race. Grant Shapps, a former MP and Cleverly’s campaign chair, publicly stated that he had previously blocked the deal during his tenure as defense secretary.
“As defense secretary, I was so concerned about the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands that I blocked the deal from proceeding. Today, this government has announced it’s abandoned our sovereignty of the archipelago, including the militarily essential Diego Garcia.”
Grant Shapps
Former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson also weighed in on the issue, calling the decision “crazy.” He criticized the government for what he perceived as a misguided attempt to appear benevolent on the international stage.
“Why are we doing this? Sheer political correctness, desire to look like the good guys, desire to look as though we’re unbundling the last relics of our empire.”
Boris Johnson
Johnson further argued that this move was “nonsense” and detrimental in terms of geopolitics, emphasizing the strategic significance of the base for both the US and the West and its integral role in the Anglo-American alliance.
Truss’s spokesperson shifted some blame back onto Johnson, asserting that he had encouraged her to engage in talks with Mauritius during the COP26 summit. They claimed that Truss had clarified that the UK would never cede control over the territory.
Fallout From Controversial Decision Continues
Tom Tugendhat, a rival candidate for the Conservative leadership, criticized his colleagues’ involvement in the negotiations, calling it “disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch.” This sentiment underscores the internal conflict within the Conservative Party as it grapples with the implications of the Chagos Islands decision.
Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s special envoy tasked with negotiating with Mauritius and the architect of the deal, dismissed the “silly” criticisms from Tory members. He noted that Cleverly had previously “enthusiastically” led the discussions regarding the agreement.
When asked if Labour would guarantee that no other British overseas territories would be surrendered in the future, Starmer reassured reporters that the primary focus was securing the military base. “The single most important thing was ensuring that we had a secure base, the joint US-UK base; hugely important to the US, hugely important to us,” he reiterated.
The newly forged agreement concerning the continued UK-US military presence on Diego Garcia is set to last for 99 years, with provisions for renewal. As part of this deal, Britain will pay an annual sum to solidify its regional military collaboration.
