Former Navy chief says deal to hand over strategic jewel Chagos Islands must be stopped
A former First Sea Lord has backed a report calling on the UK Government to halt a deal that will hand sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
A paper from the think tank Policy Exchange warns if the deal goes ahead it will endanger the UK's strategic position in the Indian Ocean.
Labour peer Admiral Lord West, who was also a security minister under Gordon Brown, backed the paper and said overseas military bases, including the Diego Garcia base on the islands, are crucial to British security amid rising tensions across the world.
"As the UK faces the most perilous geopolitical landscape in at least a generation, our overseas military bases – so indispensable to British national security – are an invaluable currency.
"So too is the strength and depth of our relationship with the United States.
"For reasons that are difficult to fathom, the Government risks jeopardising both of these assets as it apparently remains determined to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands – the home of our vital Diego Garcia military base – to Mauritius."
He said handing over sovereignty of the islands would be an "irresponsible act" that would put the strategic interests of the UK and its allies in danger, expressing concern over Mauritius' ally China.
"The strategic implications are clear," the former Royal Navy chief warned.
"China's military, espionage and diplomatic activities in the Indian Ocean are fast expanding – so too are its relations with Mauritius.
"It has never been more important for the UK to retain its sovereign authority to protect the Diego Garcia base – a strategic jewel in a critical gateway region, which is causing no one any injustice today."
Diego Garcia is a UK-US military base used by the US government for its navy ships and long-range bomber aircraft.
The report argued the Government is "on the brink of a senseless strategic unforced error" if the deal goes ahead.
The agreement to hand over sovereignty of the remote but strategically important islands was announced by the Government in October last year and in the months since it has been an area of contention.
A Foreign Office spokesperson rejected the paper's findings, saying: "We disagree with the report's representation of this issue.
"This Government inherited a situation where the long-term future of the military base was under threat.
"Finalising a deal – on our terms – means that we can secure strong protections, including from malign influence, that will allow the base to operate as it has done well into the next century.
"We will only agree to a deal that is in the UK's best interests and protects our national security."
Reports suggest the incoming Trump administration is against the deal which was supported by outgoing president Joe Biden.
The agreement has also been criticised by the Conservative opposition.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel and shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the deal to transfer sovereignty had no provision for the defence of Diego Garcia.
The senior Tories said it was "entirely unacceptable that we do not have clear answers" about how the base would be protected.
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