Perspective – Chagos Islands and the Triumph of Big Power Politics over Human Rights

The Chagos Archipelago is a remote, mostly uninhabited, group of about 60 islands spread across the Indian Ocean. The largest of these, Diego Garcia, is home to a secret US military base and the most important in the entire Indo-Pacific region. The site and the islands have a notorious past. After being settled by the French in 18^th A century later, this widely scattered group of islands was ceded to the British in 1810. Following the British withdrawal of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius and the soon-to-be-independent Seychelles in 1965 to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), the US. and the UK signed a bilateral agreement in 1966 to build a US military base on Diego Garcia. Between 1965 and 1973, the British, supported by the US, forcibly expelled the Chagossians from the Archipelago, so that the military base could operate in great secrecy.

At first sight the announcement by the UK government to return the Chagos chain to Mauritius, under the condition that the employment of the US military Diego Garcia is extended for another 99 years would seem to close this shameful chapter in the Anglo-American alliance. However, the status of this agreement between London and the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, is highly controversial for many reasons. Perhaps most importantly, as we explain below, the plight of Chagossia itself has been ignored due to the fear of leaving long-term geostrategic advantages to China and the process of political correctness that includes the prominence of the idea of ​​decolonization at the same time. we often ignore those who have been most affected by colonialism.

Mauritius as China’s Trojan Horse?

In recent decades, especially following the UK’s Brexit from the European Union, the former colonial power has found itself alienated from the UN and other international forums when it comes to maintaining sovereignty in far-flung overseas territories. The Chagos Islands are one such example. Since Mauritian independence, Port Louis has been reasserting its claims to the islands, gaining support from the wider international community, including, most importantly, its biggest overseas investor, China.

Security observers suggest that the growing levels of investment from China – more than a billion dollars – may mean that Beijing has more real-world influence in the political affairs of the small island nation. Therefore, as the US and its allies identify the Indian Ocean coast as an important geostrategic competition area, concerns have been raised about what this means for wider regional security. This raises long-term questions about how credible the Mauritian and Chinese authorities can be in any deal. Indeed, even a small impact on Diego Garcia’s operations would raise alarm bells, as an important launch site for bombs and personnel moving into conflict zones.

It is highly unlikely, let alone possible, under the terms made public that Mauritius would simply withdraw from its word and seek to expel US troops from Diego Garcia to be replaced by China’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). However, even in the short to medium term, it may increase the vulnerability of sensitive information, as various non-traditional security areas may be compromised after the jurisdiction is reassigned from the British Foreign Office to the Mauritian authorities. In addition, barriers to the development of the China Sea in some uninhabited clusters in the Chagos Islands appear to have been reduced by placing them under the management of the economic framework. For example, future legislative amendments could pave the way for Beijing to create human transportation hubs the size of reclaimed land structures that now line China’s 9-dash line in the South China Sea. These will be flexible and can then be converted into de facto PLAN naval bases in the event of rising tensions or outbreaks of conflict.

Honorable decolonization or the need for American strategies?

So, given the potential risks of losing sovereignty over the archipelago, why did the UK do so, apparently with the consent of the United States? This landmark agreement between the UK and Mauritius has been hailed by both governments and many neutral observers as a victory for decolonisation. It also comes as part of a wider plan from the new UK Government, led by Prime Minister Keir Stammer, to right the wrongs of history. Many of these actions were carried out as a work to overcome colonialism and exploitation of the Global South. Returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius thus marking the end of British colonialism in Africa had a powerful symbolic effect.

But are the motivations for this move really good? Given the weight of international opinion about the archipelago’s true sovereignty, it is hard to see what option the British had if they were to maintain their reputation as upholders of international law. In addition, the Biden administration fears that Mauritius could successfully seek a binding ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to seize the islands, threatening the future of the military base. US officials concluded that it was strategically important for the British to reach an agreement, and informed the new Labor government that failure to do so would jeopardize the ‘special relationship’. This is another example of the Chagos Islanders and Diego Garcia being used as pawns by the Anglo-American alliance. For example, in the 1960s, in exchange for the costs involved in the forced relocation of Chagossia and the payments made in Mauritius and Seychelles, as well as hiding US-UK actions from extensive scrutiny, the UK received a discount of 14 million. in their purchase of the US Polaris missile system.

The UK’s then-Mauritius alliance meant that the ability to project US military power for the time being (and for the next 99 years!) would be guaranteed to Diego Garcia at no additional cost. On the contrary, ironically, having just renounced sovereignty over the islands, the British government will now be forced to finance any military use it makes from the base at a cost to UK taxpayers. None of these aspects, or the precise wording and content of the agreement, was debated in parliament, so it is difficult to see whether this was a rational move by the UK government or one to suit US strategic security interests. parallels the popular political narrative of decolonization.

What about Chagossia?

From an ethical perspective, one could argue that the Chagossians should have been given a leading role in determining their future and their homeland. However, they were almost completely excluded from the process despite the injustice of being forcibly removed from Diego Garcia to Mauritius and Seychelles. Because of this, many people in Chagossia have a deep hatred not only for the British authorities, but also for the Mauritians, who failed to protect their rights as citizens of the islands or to provide them with basic social services when they arrived. Many died.

If the government of Mauritius led by President Roopun is to be truly praised as a center of justice and decolonization, there must be a concrete commitment from its leaders to return the Chagossians to their country. Instead, this small group of islands is left with an indirect plan to pave the way for their right to return to the Chagos Islands. For many, there is little hope of ever realizing that dream. After all, political leaders in Port Louis – located 1000 kilometers from Diego Garcia – may pay lip service to these brutalized former residents, but the country’s meager budget does not seem to be enough to invest in the kinds of major infrastructure developments that the rest of the Chagos Islands would require. even if they are supported by Britain’s “financial support package”.

Conclusion: Geostrategy and Grandstanding

The Chagos Islands are now part of Mauritius. This decision was welcomed by political leaders and international institutions around the world as a shining example of constructive dialogue, decolonization and the rule of international law. This is likely to win the new British leader brownie points and a chance to shine on the world stage as a smart and respectable politician. It also appears to have been approved by the US as a low-cost way to protect its key base in Diego Garcia for the foreseeable future and thereby maintain regional sovereignty. In the long run, China’s influence on Mauritius’ fragile economy may allow it to exercise some degree of political, or even military, influence in the region. Meanwhile, the return to what was once a beautiful island home to the entire community and the realization of true justice is still a distant dream. Within the current Anglo-American view of security this agreement was a very positive outcome. But let’s not pretend that this is anything other than strategic goals that take precedence, where decolonization serves as window dressing.

Further Studies in E-International Relations