Joe Biden reportedly pushed Keir Starmer into his controversial handing back of the Chagos Islands, over military concerns.
Days after Labour won power on July 4, senior officials from the National Security Council and State Department told the incoming government that Britain’s “special relationship” with the US would be jeopardised if they refused to hand back the group of atolls to Mauritius, The Telegraph reports.
Labour faced heavy criticism from figures on the right over the decision, which will see Mauritius take control of the former British Overseas Territory, though the UK and the US will rent the base for 99 years – with an option to extend.
It was feared that China could gain access to the joint UK/US Diego Garcia air base the biggest island on the chain as it seeks to expand its global naval reach.
It’s used by US troops to support campaigns in the Middle East and analysts believe it’s vital for keeping China in check in the South Pacific, the outlet reports.
But last month Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed the deal includes a provision that China will not be able to build a military base of its own on one of the 60 islands.
Mr Lammy told Parliament: “A binding judgment against the UK seemed inevitable. It was just a matter of time before our only choices would have been abandoning the base altogether or breaking international law.
“Without surety of tenure, no bases can operate effectively, nor truly deter our enemies. It impacted on our relationship with the United States, who neither wanted nor welcomed the legal uncertainty and strongly encouraged us to strike a deal.
“We have full Mauritian backing for robust security arrangements, including preventing foreign armed forces from accessing or establishing themselves on the outer islands.
“The base’s long-term future is therefore more secure under this agreement than without it.
“If this were not the case, I doubt the White House, State Department or Pentagon would have praised the deal,” Mr Lammy added.
The Cabinet minister has also insisted that relinquishing the Chagos Islands doesn’t signal policy change on any other British overseas territories, like The Falklands and Gibraltar.
However, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson slammed the decision, calling it “pathetic”. Speaking to GB News, he added: ” People think it’ll make us seem better to the rest of the world, honourable, more decent.
“They don’t think that. No, no, no, no, no. They think Britain – weak. They think – pathetic. They think, ‘Why would you give up an asset like that?’
“The idea that it buys us influence, that it buys us approval, that it is in the committee of civilised nations, it’s seen as generous. It’s rubbish.”
Chagossians have spent decades fighting for the archipelago to be returned. Over 1,000 people were forced to leave in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the military base.
There are now small Chagosian communities around the world, but mostly in Mauritius, the UK and the Seychelles.
