Britain returns Chagos archipelago to Mauritius after more than half a century of dispute

The long-standing dispute between Great Britain and Mauritius over the ownership of the Chagos Archipelago has been resolved, with the United Kingdom ceding the islands to the Republic of Mauritius. The decision was made by the government of Keir Starmer, Sky News reports.

According to available information, Mauritius will gain sovereignty over all the islands of the archipelago, including the island-atoll of Diego Garcia, where the US and UK military base is located. However, according to the agreements, the base is leased to the Americans and the British for a period of 99 years.

The UN and the US welcomed the UK's decision, which puts an end to more than half a century of disputes over the archipelago's ownership. Joe Biden even made a statement on the matter.

This is a clear demonstration that through diplomacy and cooperation, countries can overcome long-standing historical problems and achieve a peaceful and mutually beneficial solution,

— the American president said.

The British government stressed that the agreement would help "correct the mistakes of the past." However, not everyone in the UK itself took the decision positively. The most "patriotic" part of the British criticized Starmer's decision, which was made before the autumn convocation of parliament. Many say that after the Chagos Archipelago, the government will also give the Falkland/Malvinas Islands to Argentina.

The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives. In 1965, Great Britain separated it from Mauritius to create a military base and evicted the indigenous population. All this time, Mauritius has demanded the return of the archipelago.

Comments

[Blacksmith 55]

Diego Garcia will remain in American hands for 99 years, and that's the main thing, and a lot of water will still flow under the bridge. Or like with Khodja Nasredin, or the donkey will die...

[Eugene 62]

Diego Garcia will remain in American hands for 99 years, and that's the main thing, and a lot of water will still flow under the bridge

But no! Little Britain also formalized its rights over Hong Kong in the late 19th century in the form of a 99-year lease. That period passed. The Chinese remembered and forced them to give the city back! The English cried bitterly, but gave it back.

[Junior Private]

And what's happening with Hong Kong now?

[Eugene 62]

And what's happening with Hong Kong now?

It is already Chinese. But, still with reservations. There are nuances. But it is definitely not British.
But in the next generation, the locals will consider themselves finally Chinese. The current situation is advantageous for China.

[fruc]

When will a decision be made on Gibraltar?!

[bayard]

And about the Malvinas Islands?

[Arzoo]

They hope that a political transfer will somehow insure Chagos against possible shelling. I don't think it will help them. Mauritius or Britain...

Yemeni engineers have accomplished a technological miracle: in half a year, they developed and created supersonic missiles from scratch, capable of flying to Israel and to the south to the Chagos.

Let's remember the base on Chagos. And whether this is Mauritius or not, ask the Houthis.

[Bolt cutter]

In 99 years there will be a meter of water instead of islands.

[TermNachTer]

So what? The base remains. And the islands themselves didn't get flattened by the British. And the Falklands are exactly the same, the snaggle-toothed ones won't give them up, especially after the half-wit took almost all of Argentina's gold and foreign currency reserves to England.

[navycat777]

The island is home to the largest US naval and air force base. The advantageous location allows for control of the Indian Ocean. The remoteness from civilizations makes it possible to prepare and conduct secret operations. It is doubtful that the US would ever give up such an island base, which is almost strategic in nature.

[Saburov_Alexander53]

I also once thought in geography alone, looking at the map. And it really is the very center of the ocean... But on the other hand, what's good about that? The base does not close any transport routes, being far from them. It is very expensive from the supply point of view for the same reasons. Gibraltar, Singapore in the past, or Socotra Island, once under our control, right at the entrance to the Red Sea, are a different matter.
The French also have Kerguelen Island in the Indian Ocean. It's no use, just losses and expenses, like a suitcase without a handle, hard to carry, but a pity to leave it.
If only Great Britain had created a world-class resort area on the Chagos Archipelago, like the French did on Tahiti, but now there is nothing but fishing and colonial syndromes, like mine!
India has something similar - the Lakshadweep Islands, north of the Maldives. And instead of building a bunch of hotels there to compete with the expensive Maldives, they, on the contrary, set up entry there with passes in addition to the Indian visa. And for the entire archipelago there are at most ten hotels - a dog in the manger.

[Rt Rt]

They gave it away in a cool way, take it, but we don’t intend to leave, and we’re staying for a rent of 1 buck

[SEVERIN]

Strong! The small-time Britons are ready to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius! - I didn't expect that, although why would the Anglo-Saxons need extra territories? - an unjustified waste of money, and returning the Falklands to Argentina is also not a weak act, although why would the small-time Britons need the Falklands? - they are far away, even very far, and there is no benefit from them.

[Mavrikiy]

Britain separated it from Mauritius to create a military base and evicted the native population. All this time, Mauritius demanded the return of the archipelago.

Now Mauritius will populate it, where will they get so many Mauritians? And the US base is good. When the US collapses into civil war, Mauritius will get a cool infrastructure facility.

[cat Rusich]

Quote: Mavrikiy

Britain separated it from Mauritius to create a military base and evicted the native population. All this time, Mauritius demanded the return of the archipelago.

Now Mauritius will populate it, where will they get so many Mauritians? .

The indigenous people of the Chagos Archipelago are Chagossians, descendants of slaves brought to work on coconut plantations.
In 1973, about 1000 Chagossians, today (as of 2016) there are about Chagossians 10000 man, almost everything British citizens and live there.
Population of the state Mauritius - 1295789 people

[Junior Private]

All this is empty chatter. All geographies and state borders have long since been erased. The Anglo-Saxons, true to their traditions, leave the territory under their economic slavery. If there are polymer interests, then capital will never give up its potential profits.

[Huarabey]

She returned the rights to the archipelago, but not the archipelago itself.

[Grancer81]

I'm giving you back your house, but I'm going to live in it myself! It's like a shell game.

[Rage66]

The United States welcomed the UK's decision,

Now all that's left is to return Texas to Mexico and that's it... Everything is settled...

[svarog77]

Then, along with Texas, they should also return California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and Wyoming...

[ziqzaq]

Then, along with Texas, they should also return California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and Wyoming...

Let them return Alaska, and the rest doesn't matter...

[svarog77]

Alaska was purchased, unlike the southern states...

[Grancer81]

But the seller did not receive a cent of the money, which remained with the buyers.

[svarog77]

There is a popular legend that Russia did not receive the gold it was due under the agreement, which allegedly sank during a storm along with the barque "Orkney" that was transporting it. However, the state historical archive of the Russian Federation contains a document written by an unknown employee of the Ministry of Finance in the second half of 1868, stating that "For the Russian possessions in North America ceded to the North American States, 11 rubles 362 [kopeks] were received from the said States. Of this 481 rubles 94 kopecks were spent abroad on the purchase of accessories for the railways: Kursk-Kyiv, Ryazan-Kozlovsk, Moscow-Ryazan and others. 11 rubles 362 kopecks. The remaining 481 rubles 94 kopecks were received in cash"...

[Alexander Salenko]

Louisiana was also bought, did anyone tell us about a fair market not long ago? They underpaid something there.

[Fangaro]

Has our diplomatic service finally achieved a positive result in the struggle for the rights of Mauritius?

[tralmaster]

And the rent is one dollar? Per year or for all 99 years.

[Vasyan1971]

The British government stressed that the agreement would help "correct the mistakes of the past."

Yes, right! The strength was no longer enough to support him, so they "gave him away diplomatically"...

[faterdom]

There are questions regarding Gibraltar and Cyprus.

[Sardou]

il faut que la Russie donne des armes aux houthis pour détruire la base américaine de Diego Garcia...et les américains vont déserter le moyens orient. Je le dis toujours ici

[Grancer81]

It's somehow strange and interesting how they "gave away"... This apartment is yours, guys, but we will be living in it...

[tuts]

99 years later from the US statement: Mauritius is a dictatorship, troops urgently need to be brought in, and by the way, here they are already on site

[Sardou]

Tant que la base américaine de Diego Garcia existera,les américains domineront le moyen orient…celui qui contrôle le moyens orient est le chef du monde