US Backs UK’s Chagos Islands Deal with Mauritius Amidst Past Trump Criticism

The United States government has officially endorsed the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while securing a 99-year lease for the crucial military base on Diego Garcia. This backing comes after a period of uncertainty triggered by former US President Donald Trump’s fluctuating stance on the deal.

A Long-Standing Dispute

The Chagos Archipelago, located in the Indian Ocean, has been a point of contention between the UK and Mauritius for over five decades. Mauritius claims the islands as an integral part of its territory, asserting that the UK’s continued administration of the islands as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) violates United Nations resolutions prohibiting the fragmentation of colonial territories before independence. Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute – Wikipedia

The Agreement and Diego Garcia

Under the agreement reached in May, Mauritius will assume full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. In exchange, the UK will lease back Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, for 99 years. Diego Garcia is a strategically important location, hosting a joint UK-US military base. The US Department of State emphasized its desire for “continued use” of the base, stating it would “advance US national security” and ensure “security and stability across the Indian Ocean.” US ‘supports’ UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Trump’s Previous Opposition

The US endorsement represents a shift from earlier statements by former President Trump, who initially criticized the deal as “an act of great stupidity” and a demonstration of “total weakness.” These comments, made on his social media platform Truth Social, surprised British officials, given the prior support for the agreement from his own administration. US ‘supports’ UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Forced Displacement of Chagossians

Between 1967 and 1973, the entire population of the Chagos Archipelago was forcibly removed by the UK to facilitate the establishment of the military base on Diego Garcia. The removals impacted communities in Mauritius, the Seychelles, and the UK. Chagos Archipelago sovereignty dispute – Wikipedia

Upcoming Talks

The US government’s support for the deal comes ahead of planned talks between the US and Mauritius next week. US ‘supports’ UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius

Deal Value

The deal is worth £3.4bn ($4.6bn). US ‘supports’ UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius