UK Firm on Gibraltar and Falklands Sovereignty Amid Chagos Handover Controversy

UK control of Gibraltar and the Falklands is 'non-negotiable', states spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer

Following an arrangement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, there are worries that the UK might relinquish sovereignty over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands.

Political journalist @alixculbertson

Monday, October 7, 2024 2:27

The Prime Minister's spokesperson has stated that the UK's control over Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands is not open to discussion.

Concerns regarding the UK government's dedication to keeping the British overseas territories under British control have emerged following the announcement on Thursday that the Chagos Islands will be transferred to Mauritius.

The official representative for Sir Keir Starmer stated that the government is dismissing the possibility of negotiations concerning Gibraltar, which Spain contends, and the Falkland Islands, which Argentina disputes.

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"He stated unequivocally that the sovereignty of the two British territories is not open for negotiation."

After the recent declaration regarding the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, the Argentine foreign minister vowed to take "specific measures" to secure the transfer of the Falklands to Buenos Aires.

A representative for Sir Keir stated, "The status of the Falklands is not negotiable – this continues to be our stance."

"The circumstances surrounding Chagos are distinct and historically singular, making comparisons with other territories inapplicable."

Gibraltar’s leader, Fabian Picardo, stated that the UK’s stance on the Chagos Islands cannot be compared to that of Gibraltar, emphasizing that the circumstances surrounding each are entirely distinct.

Alison Blake, the Governor of the Falkland Islands, affirmed that the British government's dedication to maintaining the islands' British sovereignty is steadfast and unchanged.

A spokesperson for Sir Keir stated that the previous Conservative administration conducted eleven negotiation sessions concerning the Chagos Islands starting in 2022, with the current government successfully concluding these discussions with an agreement.

The group of islands located between Mauritius and India remained embroiled in a conflict for half a century following Mauritius's 1968 independence from Britain, as the Chagos Islands were not included in that sovereignty transfer.

Since that time, Mauritius has been attempting to regain control of the Chagos Islands, but the UK has opposed these efforts due to the presence of a crucial naval support facility, jointly operated with the US, on Diego Garcia, the archipelago's largest island.

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The original inhabitants of the Chagos Islands were forced to leave to make way for a military installation. The majority relocated to Mauritius or the Seychelles, while around 3,500 have settled in the UK since 2002.

Under the newly agreed terms, the military installation will continue to be governed by the United Kingdom and the United States for a minimum of 99 years.

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Prominent members of the Conservative Party expressed concerns over the decision, worrying that it might give China strategic access to the Indian Ocean, given Beijing's significant investments in Mauritius.

Sir Keir's spokesperson stated that the agreement resolves the legal disputes, disputed sovereignty issues, and cases in international tribunals.

Today, Chagossians gathered outside the parliament building to demonstrate their frustration over being excluded from negotiations concerning the sovereignty of their homeland.

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