The recent agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom regarding the Chagos Archipelago has been lauded as a historic political agreement, with US President Joe Biden even applauding the deal. Under the agreement, British rule over the uninhabited islands of the archipelago will come to an end, but the US Navy base on Diego Garcia, the main and most southerly island, will remain untouched. This base has played a crucial role in US military operations and strategic positioning in the Indian Ocean for over 50 years.
The agreement allows for the return of Chagossians, who were exiled from the archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the US base, to the smaller islands of the Chagos Archipelago, but they are still not permitted to access or resettle on Diego Garcia. While the deal falls short of the United Nations’ calls for complete decolonization of the Archipelago and the desires of Chagossians to return home without conditions, the White House is relieved that an agreement has been reached that allows the US military facility to continue operating.
Diego Garcia’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean has been instrumental for the US during various crises in the region, such as after the 1979 Iranian revolution and the September 11 attacks in 2001. The base has been involved in the so-called “war on terror,” including hosting detainees and assisting in the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. Although both American and British officials initially denied any involvement, it later emerged that the base played a significant role in these controversial programs.
The involvement of Diego Garcia in the extraordinary rendition program led to UK diplomats lobbying US Senate members to conceal any British role in the program. Despite evidence of collaboration between the US and UK in these practices, no individuals have been prosecuted for their actions. The secrecy surrounding Diego Garcia has allowed both countries to shield their operations from public scrutiny for decades, contributing to a lack of accountability for wrongdoing.
The recent UK-Mauritius agreement regarding the Chagos Archipelago does not mark a victory for Chagossians or uphold the international rule of law, as claimed. Instead, it perpetuates the veil of secrecy surrounding Diego Garcia and the actions taken during the war on terror, highlighting the shortcomings of diplomacy in holding powerful countries accountable for their actions. The agreement further undermines Western credibility and raises questions about the ethics and accountability of dominant powers in global affairs.
