A dispute has erupted between Labour and the Conservatives over a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer has announced that Britain will return the territory but will still maintain sovereignty over the Diego Garcia military base in the Pacific Ocean. However, the Conservatives have strongly criticized this decision, with Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick accusing Sir Keir Starmer of jeopardizing Britain’s strategic interests.
Former foreign secretary James Cleverly has also joined the backlash, calling Sir Keir Starmer “weak, weak, weak” despite being involved in the initial negotiations over the agreement during his time in cabinet. In response, a Labour source has accused Rishi Sunak’s administration of putting the key UK-US base on Diego Garcia at risk during their negotiations, labeling the territorial dispute as a “legal car crash” left by the previous government.
The Tories have criticized the Chagos deal despite being responsible for starting the negotiations when they were in power. Former foreign secretary Mr. Cleverly initiated talks on the sovereignty of the archipelago in November 2022. The response from Tory leadership candidates has been strong, with Tom Tugendhat calling the retreat a “shameful” move that undermines security and exposes allies.
The US has hailed the Chagos deal as a “win for diplomacy”, emphasizing the importance of the agreement in securing the future of the joint US-UK military facility on Diego Garcia. The US State Department spokesman, Matt Miller, praised the successful outcome of the negotiations between the two US partners after more than a dozen rounds of talks.
In other news, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for a referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Convention on Human Rights. Johnson believes there is a strong case to give the public a say on the ECHR, which has been criticized for limiting Britain’s control over its immigration policy. Tory leadership candidates Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat have expressed support for leaving the ECHR.
Additionally, Boris Johnson has claimed that a bugging device was found in his bathroom after a visit by Benjamin Netanyahu when he was foreign secretary. The former prime minister revealed the incident in his memoir, highlighting the security concerns surrounding high-profile visits.
Overall, the Chagos Islands dispute and the surrounding political reactions demonstrate the complex dynamics of international relations and territorial sovereignty. The differing perspectives of Labour and Conservative leaders highlight the challenges of navigating strategic decisions that impact national security and diplomatic relationships. The call for a referendum on the ECHR membership and the security concerns raised by Boris Johnson further underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in government actions.
