Concerns Over Chagos Sovereignty Agreement Raised in British Parliament

On Monday evening, October 21, the issue of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) took center stage during questions directed at the Foreign Office in the British House of Commons. The discussion was particularly piqued by revelations regarding alleged phone surveillance linked to an agreement between the UK and Mauritius concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.

Prominent figures such as Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, and Gregory Stafford voiced their apprehensions regarding the potential security and geopolitical ramifications of the agreement.

They referenced a leaked audio recording released by a whistleblower known as “Missie Moustass,” which purportedly featured conversations involving Charlotte Pierre, the British High Commissioner to Mauritius.

Farage openly criticized the British government’s handling of negotiations over Chagos sovereignty, raising concerns about allegations that the Mauritian government had been surveilling the High Commissioner and other officials.

He posed a provocative question: “If police investigations confirm these allegations and prove that the Mauritian government is acting maliciously, does a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia still hold any value?”

In response, Stephen Doughty, Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, acknowledged the reports with “significant concern” but refrained from commenting on the ongoing police investigation.

He noted that the discussions referenced in the leaked audio were outdated and unrelated to the current negotiations.

Doughty reaffirmed the UK government’s confidence in the agreement, asserting that it ensures the future of the military base while safeguarding the security interests of both the UK and the Chagossian people.

“We have secured a treaty that meets our national security objectives,” he stated.

Gregory Stafford raised further concerns regarding the lack of a binding agreement to prevent potential Chinese military involvement in the archipelago, especially in the context of China’s rapid expansion within the Indo-Pacific region.

“Has the government compromised British and allied security to serve certain interests?” he questioned.

Doughty firmly rejected such accusations, defending the government’s position by stating that Mauritius is not aligned with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

He maintained that this stance protects both UK and US interests. “There is absolutely no possibility that we, or the United States, would endorse an agreement that jeopardizes our security interests or those of our allies,” he emphasized, citing unequivocal support from American authorities.

The agreement, still requiring a formal treaty, is set to be reviewed by the British Parliament in the coming months.

This scrutiny will be crucial, especially given the increasing opposition from certain Members of Parliament.

For Doughty, the agreement remains a vital safeguard for the stability of the Diego Garcia military base, which is strategic for defense operations in the Indian Ocean, while also respecting the rights of the Chagossian people and the wider international community.

Source: Defi Media