MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Reform leader Farage questioning the Chagos Islands deal; allegedly Trump advisors are against it
Leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, told the Commons that senior officials in the new Trump administration were firmly against the Chagos deal (Pic UK Parliament) The UK's deal to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is “strongly supported” by the United States, according to the Government. In October, it was confirmed the islands would once again come under Mauritian control, although Diego Garcia would remain a military base for the US and UK, with Britain maintaining a 99-year lease over it.
It is the archipelago's most strategically vital asset and because of its location in the Indian Ocean it has been a significant hub for US naval and air operations.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the UK's deal did have Washington's support, although it still needs to be finalized.
He said the UK would not have signed the deal “if it weren't being supported by our US friends”.
“This deal secures the operation of the UK-US based on Diego Garcia well into the next century,” he said.
“And I expect that when everyone looks at the detail of the deal, they'll be backing it as well.”
But shadow Defense secretary James Cartlidge called on the Government to pause the deal until President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
This is a view shared by the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, who told the Commons that senior officials in the new Trump administration were firmly against the deal.
“The presentation of what the American administration believes is a fantasy,” he said.
“I have been contacted by very senior officials and advisers from the incoming Republican administration, and every single one of them is appalled at this deal.
”They know the leasehold agreement will not survive just as the deal with China over Hong Kong didn't survive.
“Hasn't the time come for the Government to admit this is a rotten deal for the UK, a rotten deal for America and an even worse deal for the Chagos Islands?”
At the time the deal was struck, Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the Government had “inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat”.
And, after the deal, US President Joe Biden emphasized Diego Garcia's importance in balancing both sovereignty and strategic interests.
“This agreement affirms Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago while granting the United Kingdom the authority to exercise the sovereign rights of Mauritius with respect to Diego Garcia,” he said. (Forces.net)
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Read all commentsTrimonde, you are funny.
Posted 6 hours ago +1“Just like they engineered UN protocol and vocabulary, especially concerning Non Self Gov Territories”
Posted 6 hours ago +1What a load of old clap-trap. According to your specious reasoning, only those that have neither any interest or knowledge to have 'engineered UN protocol'.
Trimonde,
Posted 6 hours ago +1You forget one fundamental rule, that this modern 21st century gives people the right to determine their own future. It should also be pointed out that Spain colonised south America against the wishes of the indigenous people and that Argentina was a breakaway splinter of Spain that wanted independance. Then boldly claim that everything Spain touched in the south Atlantic automatically became property of Argentina. WRONG, Argentina never got that right. Spain wrnt to war for four years with Argentina because it opposed the breakaway and did not indeed recognise Argentina untill 1863. Yet Argentina tried to assert sovereignty on the Falkland Islands in 1833.
Britain rightfully removed that garrison. They rightfully removed an invasion force in 1982.
Just remember the laws of the modern world.
Things have changed since you got out of your pram. The UN now recognises the right to self determination. Not taught to us by the British but documented in the UN charter.
The Falklands are completely unrelated to the Chagos islands and you know that.
You can never compare the two.
You will however continue to indoctrinate your children the lies and myths about your claim.
Time to accept that your draconian way of life is over. Move on. Start rebuilding good trade relationships with the rest of the world including us. Why, even Chile is going down that trade route now.
Your country will be left isolated in the years to come unless you change your political ignorance.
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