New Delhi: India has welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to return the Chagos archipelago to Mauritian sovereignty, following an agreement that ensures the continued operation of the strategic US military base at Diego Garcia.
On Thursday (October 3), the UK and Mauritius released a joint statement announcing that they would soon finalise a treaty confirming Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, while allowing the military base at Diego Garcia to remain operational.
“We welcome the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia. This significant understanding completes the decolonisation of Mauritius. The resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute after two years of negotiations, in compliance with international law, is a welcome development,” the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated.
The statement also noted that India has “consistently supported Mauritius’s claim for sovereignty over Chagos, in line with its principled stand on decolonisation and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, as well as its longstanding and close partnership with Mauritius.”
India further emphasised its commitment to working with Mauritius and other like-minded partners to strengthen maritime safety and security as well as contributing to peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.
The UK had split the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius three years before its independence in 1968. Thereafter, the US had leased Diego Garcia from the UK to set up its Indian Ocean military base, which had been opposed by India since its inception.
The lease was renewed in 2016 for another 20 years.
In 2017, India had voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that sought an opinion from the International Court of Justice on (ICJ) the legality of the UK’s possession of the Chagos archipelago.
The ICJ ruled in 2018 that the UK’s occupation was a violation of international law and Mauritius was the rightful owner of the archipelago. India had made an intervention before the ICJ on behalf of Mauritius. The General Assembly also later passed a resolution calling for its implementation of the advisory opinion.
The joint statement released on Thursday was the result of 11 rounds of negotiations between the UK and Mauritius that began in 2022.
The political agreement, “which is subject to a treaty” that is being finalised, will see the UK recognise that “Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.”
Both countries will also ensure the “long-term, secure and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia which plays a vital role in regional and global security.”
“For an initial period of 99 years, the United Kingdom will be authorised to exercise with respect to Diego Garcia the sovereign rights and authorities of Mauritius required to ensure the continued operation of the base well into the next century,” the statement said.
The joint statement also noted that “in reaching today’s political agreement, we have enjoyed the full support and assistance of our close partners, the United States of America and the Republic of India.”
Indian official sources claimed that India “played a quiet but important role in the background.”
“It firmly backed the principled Mauritian position, supporting its stance on the need to do away with the last vestiges of decolonisation. At the same time, it consistently encouraged both sides to negotiate with an open mind and with a view to achieving mutually beneficial outcomes,” they said.
With China vastly improving its naval presence, India had never been eager to see any potential understanding that could result in a US withdrawal from the Diego Garcia base, concerned that such a move might create a power vacuum in the Indian Ocean.
New Delhi firmly believes “that the final outcome is a win for all sides involved and will reinforce long-term security in the Indian Ocean region,” the sources added.
US President Joe Biden praised the agreement, calling it a “clear demonstration” that diplomacy can help nations “overcome long-standing historical challenges to reach peaceful and mutually beneficial outcomes.”
“Diego Garcia is the site of a joint US-UK military facility that plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security. It enables the United States to support operations that demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability, provide rapid response to crises, and counter some of the most challenging security threats we face. The agreement secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century,” Biden’s statement added.
