Argentina has pledged to achieve “full sovereignty” over the Falkland Islands following the UK’s relinquishment of control over a remote archipelago in exchange for securing the future of a strategically vital military base.
The country’s foreign minister, Diana Mondino, expressed her approval of the action taken by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government yesterday, aimed at ending “outdated practices” after Britain returned the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
She assured that “concrete action” would be taken to guarantee that the Falklands – the British-governed archipelago that Argentina refers to as the Malvinas and claims as its territory – are transferred to Buenos Aires.
In a statement that is likely to intensify growing criticism from Tories regarding the UK-Mauritius agreement and its perceived implications for other overseas territories, Ms. Mondino remarked: “The long-standing dispute between Britain and Mauritius reached a resolution today, with the people of Mauritius successfully reclaiming their territory of Chagos.
“The Malvinas were, are, and will always be Argentine.”
In a statement yesterday, Falklands governor Alison Blake aimed to reassure residents that Britain’s dedication to the South Atlantic territory remained “unwavering”.
She pointed out that the historical contexts of the two territories are “very different”.
The UK government announced earlier that it had reached a political agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands, also called the British Indian Ocean Territory, following negotiations that began in 2022.
Mauritius will gain sovereignty over the archipelago while the joint US-UK military base will continue to operate on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.
The UK Foreign Office indicated that the agreement ensures the status of the base will be undisputed and legally secure.
US President Joe Biden heralded the “historic” agreement, stating that it guarantees the “effective operation of the joint facility into the next century”.
Responses to the agreement were mixed, with some celebrating the resolution of a long-standing and bitter dispute regarding Britain’s last African colony, while others, including candidates for Tory leadership, argued it might compromise UK security.
Human rights advocates, who have demanded full reparations for generations affected by the forced displacement of islanders, contended that the deal does not adequately address historical injustices.
Chagossians were compelled to vacate the central Indian Ocean territory by 1973 to allow for the establishment of the military base.
The expulsions are seen as one of the most disgraceful episodes of Britain’s modern colonial history, with Chagossians fighting for decades to return to their islands.
The United Nations’ highest court, the International Court of Justice, previously ruled that the UK’s administration of the territory was “unlawful” and needed to cease.
Meanwhile, the aftermath of the Falklands War looms over UK-Argentine relations, as Buenos Aires invaded in 1982, claiming the islands as a legacy from Spain in the 1800s.
The conflict resulted in the deaths of 655 Argentinians, 255 British personnel, and three Falkland Islanders before British forces reestablished control.
A joint statement from the UK and Mauritius governments noted that the new agreement will be governed by a treaty that will “address past wrongs and demonstrate the commitment of both parties to support the welfare of Chagossians”.
The arrangement concerning the continued UK-US military presence on Diego Garcia is anticipated to last for 99 years, with an option for renewal, and involves Britain paying an annual fee.
Overseas territories minister Stephen Doughty declined to disclose the cost to British taxpayers, stating that “full details will be set out in due course”.
A group of asylum seekers has been residing on Diego Garcia since 2021 after facing challenges while attempting to travel by boat from Sri Lanka to Canada.
The British Indian Ocean Territory has been reviewing their protection claims.
Under the new agreement, Mauritius would be responsible for any future arrivals.
Conservative former minister and leading candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak, Robert Jenrick, commented: “It’s taken three months for Starmer to surrender Britain’s strategic interests.”
Former foreign secretary James Cleverly referred to the move as “weak, weak, weak,” while former security minister Tom Tugendhat cautioned that it risks allowing China to establish a military presence in the Indian Ocean.
