In October 2024, the UK government agreed to transfer the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, sparking both international praise and domestic controversy. This decision ended decades of legal disputes over the islands, which have been under British control since the 19th century. The Chagos Archipelago, strategically located in the Indian Ocean, includes Diego Garcia, a key US military air base. While much of the global community welcomed the move, critics in Britain argue it threatens national security and undermines the UK’s geopolitical influence. The agreement allows Britain to retain control over Diego Garcia for 99 years, even as the remaining islands are handed over.

The history of the Chagos Islands is deeply tied to Britain's colonial past. The archipelago was separated from Mauritius in the 1960s, prompting legal battles that reached the International Court of Justice. In 2019, the ICJ ruled Britain’s administration of the islands unlawful, and subsequent UN resolutions supported Mauritius’ claim. With the new agreement, Mauritius can begin resettlement efforts, excluding Diego Garcia, while Britain retains a foothold through its defence interests. This outcome reflects broader international pressures on the UK to resolve colonial-era disputes and could impact its global diplomatic standing.

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VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:43 Contested Decolonisation and the Chagos Islands
01:41 The Strategic Significance of the Chagos Archipelago
02:25 Britain, Mauritius, and the Chagos Islands
04:07 The Chagos Archipelago and Mauritius Independence
05:47 The Chagos Islands Question
07:46 UK vs Mauritius: The ICJ Case and After
09:10 Britain’s and the Chagos Islands Problem
10:31 The Implications of the Chagos Islands Agreement

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Government of Mauritius
https://govmu.org/
British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
https://www.gov.uk/government/organis...
Treaty of Paris | 1814
https://www.napoleon-series.org/resea...
UN General Assembly Resolution 1514
https://documents.un.org/doc/resoluti...
International Court of Justice | Chagos Islands Case
https://www.icj-cij.org/case/169

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