A deal that may see the UK hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is about to be signed right now.
It’s understood at Sir Keir Starmer will attend a digital ceremony on Thursday morning, regardless of criticism from the Conservatives and Reform UK.
The federal government has argued that worldwide authorized rulings in favour of Mauritius imply this handover is important.
As a part of the deal, the UK will lease again a army base on the archipelago for 99 years.
Later, MPs can be up to date on the phrases of the deal within the Commons, which might embody extending this lease by an extra 40 years.
Simply this week, Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned the power on Diego Garcia, the most important of the Chagos Islands, was “essential to our security”.
He informed MPs: “We’ve needed to act, because the earlier authorities began to do, to cope with that jeopardy.
“We’re completing those arrangements and we’ll report to the House when we can.”
Picture:Chagossians protested exterior the Homes of Parliament final 12 months
Critics argue that handing over the islands might find yourself benefitting China, which has rising attain within the Indian Ocean.
Though the Tories have criticised Labour’s dealing with of the negotiations, the discussions started again after they have been in energy.
Progress was additionally delayed when Donald Trump started his second time period – with Secretary of State Marco Rubio as soon as suggesting the deal posed a “serious threat” to America’s safety.
However throughout a gathering with Sir Keir within the Oval Workplace, the US president mentioned he was prepared to “go along” and help the deal.
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1:00Chagossians ‘feel betrayed again’
He mentioned: “They determined the way forward for the island with out even consulting the inhabitants, the Chagossian individuals, who’re the guts of this tragedy.
“We are voiceless. I don’t know what else to say because we feel betrayed again.”
One other, Jemmy, mentioned: “Mauritius is just not my residence. The UK is just not my residence. Chagos is my residence.
“We’ve been fighting against all odds to become somebody – and we still haven’t – but that is because we do not have our feet planted on our homeland.”
