What Does the Return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius Mean?

 Throughout history, great powers have used strategically important islands, located thousands of miles from their own shores, to expand their empires and sustain their global hegemony. Islands that provide control over oceans and sea routes have been indispensable for imperial states seeking to monitor trade routes, establish military bases, and increase their political influence. In this context, the United Kingdom, France, the US, and other Western states have both derived economic benefit from their colonies and reinforced their military and political power by acquiring overseas territories.

The significant recent development in the dispute between the UK and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands is a reminder that the legacy of the colonial era persists, showing how imperial interests are intertwined with modern geopolitical dynamics.

Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean that was under French colonial rule for a long time before coming under British dominion in 1814, gained independence in 1968. However, the London government retained control of the Chagos Islands, which had been part of Mauritius until then. (In contrast, the UK returned the islands that belonged to the Seychelles when it gained independence.)

The UK's control over the Chagos Islands led to a dispute that lasted for more than half a century. The forced displacement of the islanders in the 1960s and the opening of the islands for use as a US military base sparked major controversies in terms of international law. Mauritius applied to an international court in December 2010 to get the islands back but did not achieve a result.

On October 3, 2024, a historic agreement was signed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. The UK announced that it would return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with the exception of Diego Garcia Island, where it has deployed a military base together with the US.

While the details still need to be clarified, both countries considered the agreement a gain. In a joint statement, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth said, "This is a significant moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law."

The decision was welcomed by the African Union as a "historic political agreement." African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat described the agreement as "a major victory for the completion of decolonization, international law, and the cause of Mauritius's self-determination."

However, the same decision was met with backlash from some quarters within the UK and was described as a strategic disaster. The opposition party stated that Mauritius is an ally of China and that this decision could endanger the UK's strategic interests.

In fact, the sovereignty debates over the Chagos Islands and the status of the US military base on Diego Garcia are not merely a dispute between the UK and Mauritius. Control of these islands is an essential part of the strategic supremacy struggle between the US and China in the region. China's efforts to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean and the US's desire to maintain its strategic presence in the region to counter this expansion make this island a key element of geopolitical competition.

Historical Background

During the colonial period, the UK brought natives gathered from Africa and Southeast Asia to the Chagos Islands to work as slaves in coconut plantations. In 1965, it separated these islands from Mauritius and named them the "British Indian Ocean Territory."

At that time, entry to the island was blocked, systematic efforts were carried out to get the population to leave the island, and eventually, approximately one thousand five hundred (some sources say two thousand) Chagossians remaining on the island were deported by the London government to make way for the establishment of a joint US-UK military base. The forcibly displaced people were moved to the Seychelles and Mauritius. Some migrated to the UK.

The islanders' demands to return to their homeland and their legal struggles continued for years.

In 2019, the United Nations International Court of Justice ruled that the UK's continued control of the Chagos Islands was unlawful and ordered that the islands be returned to Mauritius urgently. The UN General Assembly also supported this decision and put pressure on the UK, but the UK, citing US military interests, defied international law and resisted withdrawing from the islands.

US-China Rivalry

Today, the step towards returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius may carry symbolic importance both for delivering justice to the islanders and for erasing the last traces of the colonial era. After all, the islanders will be able to return to their ancestral lands after years of exile. (Although perhaps a large number will be unable to leave the lives they have built in their new countries or will not want to leave their loved ones behind.)

However, with this step, while the UK aims to project a positive image to international public opinion and break free from diplomatic isolation, it is not relinquishing control of the largest island.

For the strategic importance of the Chagos Islands to the UK is concentrated on two points: the first is the need to counterbalance China's influence in the region, and the second is the need to sustain the Anglo-American alliance. Maintaining control of Diego Garcia Island means the UK can protect and control critical shipping lanes connecting Europe to Asia.

The military base on Diego Garcia is also of great strategic importance to Washington. The US aims to use the base, which it previously used to bomb Iraq and Afghanistan, for operations in the Middle East and Africa. Of course, the US also wants to protect sea lanes in the region and counterbalance China's expansion. The existence of this base plays a vital role in the US's global military and naval strategy.

On the other hand, China is trying to expand trade routes worldwide through initiatives like the "Belt and Road" and wants to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean. China is making significant investments to gain access to strategic ports, sea lanes, and trade networks in this region. Moreover, China's historical ties with Mauritius are also strong. A portion of the Mauritian population consists of citizens of Chinese origin. In 2019, Mauritius was the first and only African country to sign a free trade agreement with Beijing.

The US presence on Diego Garcia is important not only for positioning against China but also for maintaining strategic cooperation with India. India is trying to act jointly with the US against China's expansion in the Indian Ocean. In this sense, the Diego Garcia base helps both the US and India maintain a strong stance against China.

Could the Agreement Set a Precedent?

Although colonialism ended many years ago, Western powers still hold on to some overseas territories. The UK still retains 14 Overseas Territories. Similarly, France has 13 overseas territories, including Mayotte, Réunion, the Tromelin Island, and other small islands in the Indian Ocean.

Other countries with overseas territories include the US, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Denmark, Spain, and China. The agreement on the Chagos Islands raises the question of whether it could set a precedent for similar territories.

Sources:

http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/mauritius-times-epaper-friday-4-october-2024/  

https://issafrica.org/iss-today/big-step-small-win-as-chagos-islands-restored-to-mauritius

This article was originally published in Independent Türkçe, on October 16,2024.

https://www.indyturk.com/node/746981/t%C3%BCrki%CC%87yeden-sesler/chagos-adalar%C4%B1n%C4%B1n-mauritiusa-iadesi-ne-anlama-geliyor