Keir Starmer plans to discuss with Donald Trump the importance of recognizing Mauritius’s claim over the Chagos Islands, as rejecting it could provoke geopolitical tensions similar to those in the South China Sea. The talks will cover UK plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and the Chagos lease agreement, which aims to secure the U.S. military base while addressing regional security concerns.
Keir Starmer will emphasize to Donald Trump the strategic implications of rejecting Mauritius’s sovereignty claim over the Chagos Islands, home to the vital U.S. military base at Diego Garcia. His discussions will primarily focus on Ukraine, but the UK’s proposal for Gaza’s reconstruction and the Chagos leasing deal will also be addressed. Starmer’s team believes that a U.S. denial could exacerbate tensions akin to those in the South China Sea.
The Chagos deal involves the UK compensating Mauritius for a 99-year lease on the islands, often referred to as Britain’s last African colony. This agreement is justified by security considerations rather than adherence to international law, which lacks relevance for the Trump administration. However, UK ministers have faced backlash regarding the handover of control to Mauritius, despite UK administration maintaining authority over the islands for nearly a century.
While an interim deal was reached last year, new demands from Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam have compelled a renegotiation. Some UK Conservatives are attempting to persuade the Trump administration to oppose the agreement, citing negative diplomatic repercussions. Nonetheless, the UK hopes bureaucratic continuity will prevail from the Biden administration, ensuring support from the Pentagon for the deal.
The UK anticipates a U.S. decision regarding the agreement within weeks. Should Trump oppose it, the UK may have to withdraw from negotiations with Mauritius. The UK contends that an international court ruling identifying the islands as Mauritian may eventually become binding, impacting future maritime laws.
Downing Street asserts that failure to finalize the agreement could invite aggressive maneuvers by China in the Indian Ocean, akin to tensions in the South China Sea. They underscore that legal and security analyses indicate the base’s operational viability will be jeopardized without a deal. Furthermore, estimates regarding the cost of leasing the islands remain undisclosed, although officials insist the cited figures are inflated.
The establishment of the U.S. military base in the Chagos Islands followed the eviction of the native Chagossians in previous decades. UK officials reject claims of Mauritius’s alleged ties with China while asserting that India remains the primary regional ally, as Mauritius actively abstains from participating in China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
In summary, Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with Donald Trump will significantly address the Chagos Islands’ sovereignty dispute and its implications for U.S.-UK relations. The UK government’s strategic leasing plan aims to mitigate potential Chinese aggression in the region while ensuring the operational functionality of the Diego Garcia base. The outcome of Trump’s decisions regarding this lease may have lasting geopolitical consequences.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
