A former member of the Reform party is facing criticism for condemning the Chagos Islands deal while previously advocating for a similar agreement with Joe Biden. Andrew Rosindell had written to Biden in 2020 urging action to address the situation in Chagos and expressing hope for US assistance in rectifying past injustices. He had also emphasized the UK’s commitment to returning the islands to Mauritius.
Over the weekend, Rosindell left the Conservative Party for Reform, citing the Tories’ failure to challenge the government on the Chagos issue as a primary reason for his departure. However, in December 2020, he reassured President-elect Biden that the Chagossian people’s plight was a stain on the UK’s human rights record and stressed the need for policy reconsideration regarding the islands’ future.
Rosindell’s letter, written in his capacity as the Chagos Islands All Party Parliamentary Group chairman, assured that Mauritian sovereignty over Chagos would not jeopardize US national security interests. He highlighted the UK’s intention to transfer Chagos to Mauritius and lease back Diego Garcia for 99 years, emphasizing that the US military base’s security would not be compromised.
The UK and Mauritius signed an agreement in May granting Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands after centuries of British control, a move Rosindell criticized as a surrender. Despite his current stance, in 2020, he had expressed hopes that the US would help address historical injustices in the region and collaborate with allies like Mauritius, India, and Australia for stability in the Indian Ocean.
The White House welcomed the agreement, emphasizing its importance in ensuring the continued operation of the joint US-UK military facility at Diego Garcia. The ongoing debate over the Chagos Islands has seen conflicting views from various political figures, with accusations of hypocrisy and inconsistency among different parties.