Web Stories Saturday, December 21

Britain’s opposition Conservative Party negotiated this agreement for years while in power.

But it is now critical of how the new Labour government has handled the issue, highlighting the negative reaction from Chagossians.

“It is absolutely crystal clear that they feel that their voices have not been heard by this government, that they’re having no say on the future of what is their home – and that’s what they want addressed,” Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel told CNA.

HURDLES PERSIST

While Chagossians successfully fought for the right to become British citizens at the turn of the millennium, many say they would rather have the right to return home.

But the British government’s latest deal with Mauritius would allow them only to visit their homeland’s largest island, Diego Garcia, which is now a strategically important and operational British military outpost shared with the US.

Under the deal, Chagossians would also only be allowed to return to the outer islands.

The agreement faces other major hurdles.

US President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly against the deal, which would see Mauritius agreeing to lease the military base on Diego Garcia back to the UK for 99 years.

Questions have emerged over how much this would reduce London’s and Washington’s military autonomy on the island, as well as the power it would give Mauritius to have a say on operations there.

However, the UK government said it is confident that all sides will support the deal once the details are released.

“For the first time in 50 years, the base will be undisputed and legally secure,” said Luke Pollard, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces.

“Continued uncertainty would be a gift to our adversaries. That is why the agreement has been welcomed by all parts of the US system, and other critical regional security partners.”

The deal is subject to the finalisation of a treaty, with the plan to present it to the UK parliament next year.

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