Pope Leo XIV says UK’s Chagos Islands deal ‘important victory’

Pope Leo XIV has stated he’s “delighted” the UK has agreed at hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Chatting with a delegation of 15 refugees from Chagos, Pope Leo stated that the transfer represented a “important victory” of their lengthy battle to “restore a grave injustice”.

Underneath the phrases of a treaty signed in May, Mauritius will achieve sovereignty of the islands from the UK, however permit the US and UK to proceed working a navy base on one of many islands, Diego Garcia, for an preliminary interval of 99 years.

The Pope stated he hoped Mauritian authorities would make sure the refugees are in a position to return residence. UK opposition leaders – and a few Chagossians now resident within the UK – have criticised the deal.

Talking in French, the pontiff stated: “The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging signal and a strong image on the worldwide stage.”

He added that each one individuals “have to be revered by the highly effective of their id and rights, particularly the best to stay on their land – and nobody can power them into exile”.

A UK authorities spokesperson stated the navy base on Diego Garcia was “important” to the safety of the UK and its allies.

“This deal secures the operations of the joint US-UK base for generations, with sturdy provisions for protecting its distinctive capabilities intact and our adversaries out,” they added.

The UK bought the islands for £3m in 1968, however Mauritius has argued it was illegally pressured to offer away the islands with a view to achieve independence from the UK.

The islands have been then cleared to make means for a UK-US armed forces base with massive teams of Chagossians transferring to Mauritius and the Seychelles, or taking on an invite to settle in England, primarily in Crawley, West Sussex.

In Might, the federal government stated it might pay Mauritius a mean of £101m a 12 months for 99 years underneath the phrases of the settlement.

The deal units a 24-mile buffer round Diego Garcia, the place nothing could be constructed with out UK consent.

Overseas navy and civilian forces may even be barred from different islands within the archipelago, with the UK retaining an influence to veto any entry to the islands.

The treaty will come into impact solely after it’s permitted by each the UK and Mauritian parliaments.

When the deal was struck, the Conservatives described it as “an act of nationwide self-harm”, which left the UK “extra uncovered to China” due to its ties with Mauritius.

The prime minister insisted that the deal was crucial to sustaining the UK’s nationwide safety.

“If we didn’t agree this deal the authorized scenario would imply that we might not have the ability to stop China or another nation organising their very own bases on the outer islands or finishing up joint workout routines close to our base,” Sir Keir Starmer stated.

“No accountable authorities might let that occur.”

The settlement was welcomed by Mauritian Legal professional Common Gavin Glover, who instructed the BBC in Might: “Our nation is elated that this 60-year wrestle is lastly over.”

Nonetheless, two girls born in Diego Garcia who wished to have the ability to return there had raised a last-minute authorized problem towards the deal in Might.

The Excessive Courtroom went on to dismiss the problem.