UK aims to ratify Chagos Archipelago treaty with Mauritius in coming weeks

Attorney General Lord Hermer stated before the Justice Committee of the British Parliament that London remains committed to finalizing the agreement with Mauritius in the coming weeks, despite political controversy and reservations from some Chagossians. The UK government seeks to quickly ratify the treaty with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, which includes the strategic island of Diego Garcia. Lord Hermer confirmed that the executive is fully committed to adopting this agreement "in the coming weeks and months."

The treaty outlines the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos to Mauritius, a historical claim supported by international bodies such as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. Concurrently, the agreement would ensure the continued operation of the Diego Garcia military base under a long-term lease, allowing the UK and the United States to maintain this strategic site. However, the agreement faces opposition in the United Kingdom, with some opposition members, primarily conservatives, criticizing it as an excessive concession on a strategic territory.

Concerns also include the potential cost and long-term geopolitical implications. The fate of the Chagossians, forcibly displaced between the 1960s and 1970s for the military base's establishment, is another sensitive point. While some support the return of Mauritian s