Arm wrestling over the Chagos Islands: for Starmer first no from the judges, then release
The UK High Court this morning had prevented the government from ceding the strategic military possession to Mauritius, which was also contested by Trump. Then the reversal
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Legal clash, in London, over the Chagos Islands, British overseas territory, home to the sensitive Diego Garcia military base, co-located between the UK and the US, a strategic outpost on the Indian Ocean. At dawn this morning, the British government was prevented from transferring ownership of the islands, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer would like to cede to the Mauritius Islands, after a High Court judge issued an injunction. In the afternoon, the ruling was overturned, again by the High Court.
Just today, the UK is expected to sign the divestment agreement.
Flash decision
.The government 'will not take any conclusive or legally binding steps to conclude negotiations on the possible transfer of the British Indian Ocean Territory (also known as the Chagos Archipelago) to a foreign government, nor will it commit itself to the specific terms of such a transfer,' Judge Julian Goose had stated in the order signed at 2.25am today. An expedited hearing in London is scheduled for the morning. But, in a second hearing that started late in the morning, the judges of the same court rejected the emergency stay.
Iron Arm
.Two Chagossian women had initiated legal action that led to the last-minute injunction, which has now been lifted. One of them, Bertrice Pompe, speaking outside the High Court, told reporters that it is a 'very, very sad day', but 'we are not giving up'. Pompe claims that the British government was 'unable to rectify the mistakes' in the agreement, including a failure to consult the people: the islanders are opposed to a cession to another state.
A controversial agreement
.The decision blocks, at the last minute, Starmer's Labour government from a decision considered by many to be foolish: the agreement also includes the donation to Mauritius, which has never owned the atoll, of £9 billion. Sir Starmer's agreement implies the renunciation of British sovereignty and a 99-year lease to re-let the military base. The Foreign Office has kept the terms of the agreement highly confidential, but it is expected to include a hefty upfront payment for the use of the base, and an annual rent.
