Keir Starmer has defended the decision to relinquish UK control of the Chagos Islands, amidst a political blame game among Conservative leadership candidates. The prime minister emphasized that the agreement with Mauritius would ensure the long-term future of a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, which he deemed as the “single most important thing.” Critics have expressed concerns about China gaining a military foothold in the Indian Ocean and the fate of other British overseas territories.
Although Labour approved the final decision, it was actually under Liz Truss that negotiations with Mauritius were initiated. James Cleverly, who is now a Conservative leadership candidate but was then foreign secretary, opened these talks with hopes of concluding them by 2023. However, Labour’s decision seems to have caused division within Cleverly’s campaign team. Grant Shapps, Cleverly’s campaign chair and former MP, stated that he blocked the deal due to concerns about Chagos Islands’ sovereignty.
Former Tory prime minister Boris Johnson criticized giving up control of the islands as ”crazy” and attributed it to political correctness and an attempt to distance from Britain’s imperial past. He argued that Diego Garcia holds significant strategic importance for both the US and Western countries.
Truss’s spokesperson shifted blame onto Johnson for initiating discussions at Cop26 but clarified that they never intended to cede territory. Tom Tugendhat, another candidate in Cleverly’s leadership race, condemned his colleagues’ involvement in these negotiations as “disgraceful.”
Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s special envoy for UK-Mauritius negotiations who brokered this deal, dismissed Tory criticism as “silly” and highlighted Cleverly’s enthusiastic role in leading talks not long ago.
When asked if other British overseas territories would be signed away under Labour rule, Starmer emphasized securing a secure base for joint US-UK operations on Diego Garcia as their top priority. The agreement is expected to last 99 years with an option for renewal while Britain pays an annual sum towards its maintenance.