Mark Francois believes Labour's Chagos Islands handover plan 'close to collapse' - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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Mark Francois believes Labour's Chagos Islands handover plan 'close to collapse' - London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
"The UK formally separated the islands from Mauritius in 1965 before Mauritian independence and established the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), which has been leased to the United States for military purposes, including the Diego Garcia naval base. Francois, a prominent critic of the handover plan, said, "The Government's approach risks abandoning the strategic and legal interests of the UK.""
"Mauritius has long demanded sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, citing a 2019 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice and a United Nations General Assembly resolution affirming Mauritian claims. The UK Government has maintained that any transfer would be conducted in consultation with Mauritius while safeguarding UK and allied military interests. However, Francois and other critics argue that the current proposals may leave critical installations exposed."
The UK plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius faces collapse amid legal, diplomatic, and parliamentary concerns. MPs have questioned security guarantees for the Diego Garcia military base, legal obligations to former Chagossian residents removed in the 1960s and 1970s, and compensation frameworks and treaty compliance. Motions have been tabled seeking clarity on how the handover will protect UK strategic interests while complying with international rulings. Mauritius cites a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and a UN General Assembly resolution to support its sovereignty claim. The UK Government says any transfer would be conducted in consultation with Mauritius while safeguarding UK military interests.
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