Photo of fuel tanks at the edge of a miltary airstrip on Diego Garcia, largest island in the Chagos archipelago in the Indian ocean.
Credit: Reuters File Photo
New Delhi: As Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government in London clinched a deal with Port Louis to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, New Delhi welcomed the pact and vowed to work with other like-minded partners in strengthening maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.
With the political agreement between London and Port Louis ensuring the continued operation of the strategic military base jointly operated by the United Kingdom and the United States in Diego Garcia, New Delhi is of the view that the deal would reinforce the long-term security of the Indian Ocean region.
“We welcome the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia,” the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India stated in New Delhi on Thursday. “This significant understanding completes the decolonisation of Mauritius. The resolution of the long-standing Chagos dispute after two years of negotiations, in compliance with international law, is a welcome development.”
Mauritius and the UK said in a joint statement that the political agreement had the support and assistance of India and the US.
A source in New Delhi said that India had played a quiet but important role in the background as Mauritius and the United Kingdom negotiated over the past two years.
New Delhi, according to the sources, firmly backed the principled position of Mauritius and supported the stance of the Indian Ocean island nation for the need to do away with one of the last vestiges of the colonial era.
“India has consistently supported Mauritius' claim for sovereignty over Chagos, in line with its principled stand on decolonization and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, as well as its longstanding and close partnership with Mauritius,” Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.
India remains committed to working with Mauritius and other like-minded partners in strengthening maritime safety and security, and contributing to enhanced peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region, added Jaiswal.
India consistently encouraged both Mauritius and the UK to negotiate with an open mind to achieve a mutually beneficial outcome.
New Delhi is of the view that the outcome was a win for all sides involved and would reinforce the long-term security in the Indian Ocean region.