"Following interventions from the US, we are now discussing those concerns with the United States directly. The US expressed support for the treaty between the UK and Mauritius last year when it was signed, but there clearly has been a statement from the president of the United States more recently, which is very significant. We have a process going through parliament in relation to the treaty and we are pausing for discussions with our American counterparts."
"I wish to inform the government that we are just a few days away, in my opinion, from the Maldives issuing a counterclaim to the International Court of Justice to say if anybody has the right to the sovereignty of those islands, it is the Maldives and not Mauritius. I would urge you to pause all of this."
The British government has suspended its agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following a significant shift in international circumstances. The arrangement would have required the UK to cede territory while paying approximately £101 million annually to lease back the joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia. The pause stems from a reversal of US support for the transfer, with Donald Trump reportedly changing Washington's stance on the proposal. Political figures, including Nigel Farage, have raised concerns that the Maldives may file a competing territorial claim with the International Court of Justice. Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer confirmed the government is now directly discussing these concerns with the United States and will return the matter to parliament at an appropriate time.
#chagos-islands-territorial-dispute #uk-mauritius-agreement #us-foreign-policy-shift #diego-garcia-military-base #international-territorial-claims
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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