UK hands over remote Indian Ocean islands after decades-long battle

In a historic move, Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that a deal had been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after decades of fraught negotiations

The UK will give up sovereignty over a remote set of islands in the Indian Ocean after decades of fraught negotiations.

In a historic move, Keir Starmer confirmed that a deal had been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The territory includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which houses a strategically important UK-US military base at a time of rivalries between Western countries and China.

The Foreign Office said the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure following the pact. Negotiations have been running for years, with 11 rounds of talks under the previous Government and two under the new Labour administration.

Mr Starmer spoke to Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth this morning to confirm the deal, Downing Street said. A readout of the call said: "The leaders began by welcoming the political agreement achieved today between the UK and Mauritius on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago after two years of negotiations.

“The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of reaching this deal to protect the continued operation of the UK/US military base on Diego Garcia. He underscored his steadfast duty to national and global security which underpinned the political agreement reached today.

The Government also sees the move as a way to block a dangerous route for people trying to come to the UK. A small number of migrants have launched asylum claims since 2021 after making the treacherous journey to Diego Garcia.

Mr Lammy said: “This government inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with contested sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges. Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future.

"It will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner.”

US President Joe Biden said the agreement "secures the effective operation" of the Diego Garcia military base.

He said: "I applaud the historic agreement and conclusion of the negotiations between the Republic of Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the status of the Chagos Archipelago. It is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and partnership, countries can overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes."

However the deal provoked fury from in Tory circles. Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick said: "It's taken three months for Starmer to surrender Britain's strategic interests. This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing."

Former Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, who is also running to be Tory leader, said: "Weak, weak, weak! Labour lied to get into office. Said they'd be whiter than white, said they wouldn't put up taxes, said they'd stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies!"

Fellow Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat said: "This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed." He said the Foreign Office had "negotiated against Britain's interest" and it was "disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch".