Chagos Islands

2024 - 10 - 3

Chagos Islands: From Military Base to Tropical Paradise, A Historic Flip!

Chagos Islands - Chagossians - colonial history - Diego Garcia - Mauritius - territorial dispute - UK government - US military base

The UK has finally waved goodbye to the Chagos Islands, handing sovereignty over to Mauritius after decades of maritime squabbles! 🌴⚓

In a moment that has been described as historic, the United Kingdom has agreed to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, bringing an end to a protracted dispute that has lasted nearly 50 years. The deal includes the notorious Diego Garcia, a tropical atoll that houses a significant military base for the U.S., serving as a base for naval ships and long-range bombers. Think of it as turning the island into a military pineapple, a strategic home yet a tropical beauty!

The path to this agreement wasn't exactly a walk on the beach. It took 13 rounds of negotiations and considerable international pressure before the UK finally relented. For decades, the Chagossians, the original inhabitants, have fought for their rights after being forcibly removed from their homes in the early 1970s to create space for that very military base that uses Diego Garcia. The return of these islands to Mauritius signals a new era, with promises of help for the Chagossians to resettle, albeit with some complications as Diego Garcia will remain under U.S.-U.K. jurisdiction for the next 99 years.

Though the military focus may remain for now, the transfer of sovereignty marks an important shift in international relations in the region. The British Indian Ocean Territory, famously known for its stunning blue waters and coral reefs, could soon blossom into a tourist haven. Imagine sunbathing where military planes used to soar! Coffee shops might start serving ‘tropical military latte’ as locals adapt to this new identity of the islands.

As a little cherry on top, did you know that the Diego Garcia atoll is home to unique wildlife, including the rare giant sea turtle and several bird species? Those birds might just be as relieved as the Chagossians to see a change on the island. And if you're ever in Mauritius, don’t miss the opportunity to rock the Chagos disco—the islands are forever a part of its rich cultural fabric!

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

UK hands sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius (BBC News)

This includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, used by the US government as a military base for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft. The ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Britain to return Chagos Islands to Mauritius ending years of dispute (The Guardian)

Agreement to hand back UK's last African colony follows 13 rounds of negotiations and international pressure.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

UK agrees to give sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius (Aljazeera.com)

The deal includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, which is used by the United States as a military base.

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

Britain hands Chagos Islands, home of secretive US military base ... (POLITICO.eu)

Diego Garcia will remain under U.S.-U.K. jurisdiction for at least 99 years, but forcibly removed Chagossians will be helped to resettle.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Britain agrees Chagos Island sovereignty deal with Mauritius (CNN)

In the early 1970s, Britain evicted almost 2,000 residents to Mauritius and the Seychelles to make way for an airbase on the largest island, Diego Garcia, which ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

UK gives Chagos islands to Mauritius to secure military base (Financial Times)

The deal over the British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos islands, will give the UK an initial 99-year lease over Diego Garcia in return for ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

UK to hand over sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius after ... (Sky News)

Mauritius and the UK have been in dispute over the Indian Ocean islands for the past 50 years. The deal includes ensuring the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

A timeline of the UK's history with the Chagos Islands (The Guardian)

The UK has agreed to hand the archipelago over to Mauritius after decades of diplomatic dispute.

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Image courtesy of "Irish Legal News"

UK reaches historic agreement to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius (Irish Legal News)

Mauritius is to assume sovereignty over the Chagos Islands following a historic deal which brings a decades-long dispute with the UK to an end.

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Image courtesy of "The Irish Times"

Britain to return Chagos Islands to Mauritius ending years of dispute ... (The Irish Times)

Agreement will allow right of return for Chagossians, who the UK expelled from their homes in 1960s and 1970s.

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Image courtesy of "UN News"

Chagos Islands: UK's last African colony returned to Mauritius (UN News)

The United Kingdom announced on Thursday that agreement has been reached to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of dispute and ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

UK's moral case for control of Chagos Islands had dwindled ... (Sky News)

The sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands will be handed over to Mauritius after a decades-long dispute. But the British establishment has long ...

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

UK gives sovereignty of long-contested Chagos Islands to Mauritius (Voice of America)

British foreign secretary says agreement will secure future of base at Diego Garcia, largest in chain of remote islands off tip of India.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands criticised over lack of say for ... (BBC News)

Chagossians claim they were repeatedly refused the chance to take part in negotiations behind the historic deal.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

UK deal to hand over Chagos Islands criticised over lack of say for ... (BBC News)

Chagossians claim they were repeatedly refused the chance to take part in negotiations behind the historic deal.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Chagos Islands, British treatment and Tory rivalries (Financial Times)

Conservative leadership hopefuls attack Labour and clash over decision, though there is a historical irony in all this.

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

US Republicans fear UK Chagos Islands deal will boost China (POLITICO.eu)

Britain insisted its U.S. allies were fully behind the move to hand control of the islands – home to a secretive military base — to Mauritius.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Why is the UK handing the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius? (Aljazeera.com)

An agreement between the UK and Mauritian governments could see thousands of exiled Chagossians resettled again. Chagos island. An aerial view of Diego Garcia, ...

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Image courtesy of "The Conversation Africa"

Freedom for Chagos islands: UK's deal with Mauritius will be a win ... (The Conversation Africa)

Britain is close to resolving its territorial dispute with Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago, located in the central Indian Ocean.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Returning the Chagos Islands has righted a longstanding injustice (The Guardian)

Letters: A truly successful country can never rise in the future if it remains shackled by injustices from the past, writes former British high commissioner ...

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