The Chagos handover

THE UK’s decision to cede the sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius is prompted by geopolitical compulsions rather than diplomatic generosity. Had the UK been truly magnanimous, it would have also handed back the Diego Garcia military base to Mauritius, which it gave to the US as far back as 1966, via an “exchange of notes”. It’s clear now, just in case it wasn’t to those wearing rose-tinted glasses, that the US-UK alliance will never give up control of this strategically important island, citing its “commitment to safeguarding global security” and “averting threats to peace” in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

All the rhetoric, however, cannot conceal the fact that the times when Britannia ruled the waves are long gone. According to the World Directory of Modern Military Warships, the British Royal Navy is ranked ninth on the global list of the strongest navies. Even the Indian Navy is placed higher in terms of the fighting strength. The table-topper is the US, with China breathing down its neck. Heavily dependent on America in the seas, the UK just can’t afford to upset its close ally by parting with Diego Garcia.

Britain’s position had become untenable when the International Court of Justice said in 2019 that its continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago constituted ‘a wrongful act entailing the international responsibility of that State’. Eager to be seen as a responsible Western power, the UK has come up with an agreement that suits it to a tee. The pact is also aimed at curbing the use of the Indian Ocean as an illegal migration route to the UK. Britain has tactfully put the onus on Mauritius to take responsibility for migrants who may arrive on Diego Garcia and make asylum claims. Wary of the growing Chinese assertiveness in the IOR, the UK is busy wooing Mauritius, which has close trade ties with Beijing. India, which has welcomed the Chagos development, would be well advised to prioritise its own strategic interests in the region to counter the Chinese threat.