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UK Strikes Landmark Chagos Islands Agreement Amidst Legal Scrutiny– In a significant and financially weighty diplomatic move, Sir Keir Starmer has signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The landmark deal, valued at a net cost of £3.4 billion over 99 years, includes a crucial provision for the UK to lease back the strategic military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, for nearly a century, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
The Prime Minister, speaking from the UK’s military headquarters, underscored the critical importance of the Diego Garcia base, calling it “one of the most significant contributions that we make to our security relationship with the United States.” He clarified the financial terms, stating that the average annual cost would be £101 million, which he calculated to be a net overall cost of £3.4 billion over the 99-year lease, accounting for inflation. This figure drew immediate scrutiny from journalists who pointed out that a simple multiplication of the annual cost would yield a much higher total. Starmer reiterated that his figure represented the "net cost" after factoring in inflationary adjustments over time.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will retain full operational control of Diego Garcia. This includes vital assets such as the electromagnetic spectrum satellite used for communications, which plays a crucial role in countering hostile interference. To further safeguard its strategic interests, a 24-nautical mile buffer zone will be established around the island, prohibiting any construction or placement of infrastructure without explicit UK consent.
Sir Keir emphasized the geopolitical imperative behind the deal, arguing that failing to reach an agreement would leave the UK vulnerable to other nations, particularly China, establishing their own military bases on the outer islands or conducting joint exercises in close proximity to Britain’s vital asset. "We would have to explain to you, the British people and to our allies, that we'd lost control of this vital asset," he stated.
The agreement faced a last-minute legal hurdle just hours before its scheduled signing on Thursday morning. High Court judge Mr. Justice Goose granted an injunction at 2:25 AM, providing "interim relief" to Bertrice Pompe, one of two British women born on the Chagos Islands who is pursuing legal action against the Government regarding the deal. However, the injunction was subsequently discharged by a different judge following an urgent hearing, allowing the signing to proceed. Sir Keir viewed the legal challenge as beneficial, as it led to a conclusive court ruling in the Government's favour, clearing the path for the agreement.
This historic transfer of sovereignty brings to an end decades of dispute over the Chagos Islands, while simultaneously ensuring the continued operation of a strategically vital military installation for the UK and its allies in the Indian Ocean.
