What You Need to Know
The United States has announced plans to engage in discussions with Mauritius regarding its military presence in the Chagos Archipelago. This follows an agreement between the UK and Mauritius to return the islands to the latter, which has sparked various political reactions. The talks aim to ensure the long-term security of the Diego Garcia base.
Africa-Press. The United States has announced its intention to hold talks with Mauritius regarding its military presence in the Chagos Archipelago, which Britain is planning to return to the island nation under an agreement previously condemned by former President Donald Trump.
In a statement, the U.S. Department of State indicated that discussions will take place over three days next week in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, concerning the strategic “Diego Garcia” base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean.
The talks will focus on the “effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term safe operation,” and the U.S. will also engage in discussions with Britain on this matter.
According to the U.S. State Department, “the United States supports the United Kingdom’s decision to move forward with its agreement with Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago.”
The government of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached an agreement in May to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the former British colony, while leasing land for the joint U.S.-UK military base on the archipelago for a century.
While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially welcomed the agreement to return the islands, calling it “historic,” Trump later deemed it “a very foolish act” that illustrated why the U.S. should invade Greenland and seize it from its ally Denmark. However, Trump later retracted his comments and announced his acceptance of the agreement after speaking with Starmer.
It is worth noting that Britain retained control of the Chagos Islands after Mauritius gained independence from Britain in the 1960s, forcibly removing thousands of its inhabitants, who have since filed lawsuits seeking compensation.
The Chagos Archipelago has been a point of contention since the UK retained control after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. Thousands of Chagossians were forcibly removed from their homes, leading to ongoing legal battles for compensation and the right to return. The strategic importance of Diego Garcia has made it a focal point for US military operations in the Indian Ocean, complicating the situation further.
