The prime minister said the agreement with Mauritius over the islands would secure the long-term future of a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, which he deemed the "single most important thing".
However, critics of the deal have said it could allow China to gain a military foothold in the Indian Ocean, while concerns were also raised about the future of other UK overseas territories.
While Labour signed off on the final decision, it was the Conservatives who had first indicated that the UK was open to negotiations with Mauritius, with discussions launched under the then prime minister, Liz Truss. As Truss's foreign secretary, the Conservative leadership candidate James Cleverly opened the negotiations and he said he had hoped to have them concluded by the end of 2023.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 05, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin October 05, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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