07:43Mandatory credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller claimed the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius from the UK 'addressed the wrongs of the past' - but had a heated exchange with reporters over the future of the US base on Diego Garcia - during a briefing in DC on Thursday.
"You mentioned – when you were opened with the Chagos, you mentioned that this agreement addresses the wrongs of the past. And by that I presume you mean the forcible relocation of the island – of the islanders?" a journalist asked. "But I don’t believe, unless I’m completely wrong and you misstated this, that the people who were actually forcibly repatriated from Diego Garcia are allowed to go back to Diego Garcia. Is that correct?"
"I will let the UK and Mauritius to speak to the details of it," Miller answered. "I’ll let them speak to all the details, but my understanding of the agreement between these two countries is that they will be allowed to go back to other islands in the archipelago other than Diego Garcia, and that the UK is setting up a trust fund to help them with those relocations."
Chagos Islands, an archipelago of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, was separated by the UK from the then-British colony of Mauritius in 1965. In the 1970s, around 1,500 inhabitants from the Chagos Islands were reportedly forced to leave to make way for the naval base construction at Diego Garcia, which was leased to the US in 1966.
In 2016, Diego Garcia's lease agreement was extended until 2036 with the British government stating the expelled islanders would not be allowed to go back.
Questioned on the exact reason for stopping people returning to Diego Garcia, the spokesperson emphasised that the agreement was between the UK and Mauritius.
"It’s your base, though," a reporter told him.
"We were playing the role that we often play in diplomatic agreements of this nature, which is engaging with both of the two parties and encouraging them to reach an agreement and trying to get one over the line, but it is ultimately an agreement between the two countries," Miller added.
He also went on to address media concerns over alleged future Chinese interference, with Mauritius believed to have close economic and trade relations with Beijing.
"So I'm not going to speak to it in detail, but the provisions of the agreement do give us assurances that are – we will be able to maintain the security of our base," he said.
On Thursday, the UK announced that the Chagos Islands' sovereignty would be given over to Mauritius. The US base will continue, with a 99-year lease.
Following the agreement's conclusion, the British government claimed that it secures the future of the strategically important airbase in the Indian Ocean with Foreign Secretary David Lammy declaring that the deal would 'strengthen our role in safeguarding global security'.
'It addresses the wrongs of the past' - not Diego Garcia though! - State Dept passes buck to UK, Mauritius on future of US base amid Chagos Islands handover
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller claimed the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius from the UK 'addressed the wrongs of the past' - but had a heated exchange with reporters over the future of the US base on Diego Garcia - during a briefing in DC on Thursday.
"You mentioned – when you were opened with the Chagos, you mentioned that this agreement addresses the wrongs of the past. And by that I presume you mean the forcible relocation of the island – of the islanders?" a journalist asked. "But I don’t believe, unless I’m completely wrong and you misstated this, that the people who were actually forcibly repatriated from Diego Garcia are allowed to go back to Diego Garcia. Is that correct?"
"I will let the UK and Mauritius to speak to the details of it," Miller answered. "I’ll let them speak to all the details, but my understanding of the agreement between these two countries is that they will be allowed to go back to other islands in the archipelago other than Diego Garcia, and that the UK is setting up a trust fund to help them with those relocations."
Chagos Islands, an archipelago of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, was separated by the UK from the then-British colony of Mauritius in 1965. In the 1970s, around 1,500 inhabitants from the Chagos Islands were reportedly forced to leave to make way for the naval base construction at Diego Garcia, which was leased to the US in 1966.
In 2016, Diego Garcia's lease agreement was extended until 2036 with the British government stating the expelled islanders would not be allowed to go back.
Questioned on the exact reason for stopping people returning to Diego Garcia, the spokesperson emphasised that the agreement was between the UK and Mauritius.
"It’s your base, though," a reporter told him.
"We were playing the role that we often play in diplomatic agreements of this nature, which is engaging with both of the two parties and encouraging them to reach an agreement and trying to get one over the line, but it is ultimately an agreement between the two countries," Miller added.
He also went on to address media concerns over alleged future Chinese interference, with Mauritius believed to have close economic and trade relations with Beijing.
"So I'm not going to speak to it in detail, but the provisions of the agreement do give us assurances that are – we will be able to maintain the security of our base," he said.
On Thursday, the UK announced that the Chagos Islands' sovereignty would be given over to Mauritius. The US base will continue, with a 99-year lease.
Following the agreement's conclusion, the British government claimed that it secures the future of the strategically important airbase in the Indian Ocean with Foreign Secretary David Lammy declaring that the deal would 'strengthen our role in safeguarding global security'.
Mandatory credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller claimed the return of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius from the UK 'addressed the wrongs of the past' - but had a heated exchange with reporters over the future of the US base on Diego Garcia - during a briefing in DC on Thursday.
"You mentioned – when you were opened with the Chagos, you mentioned that this agreement addresses the wrongs of the past. And by that I presume you mean the forcible relocation of the island – of the islanders?" a journalist asked. "But I don’t believe, unless I’m completely wrong and you misstated this, that the people who were actually forcibly repatriated from Diego Garcia are allowed to go back to Diego Garcia. Is that correct?"
"I will let the UK and Mauritius to speak to the details of it," Miller answered. "I’ll let them speak to all the details, but my understanding of the agreement between these two countries is that they will be allowed to go back to other islands in the archipelago other than Diego Garcia, and that the UK is setting up a trust fund to help them with those relocations."
Chagos Islands, an archipelago of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, was separated by the UK from the then-British colony of Mauritius in 1965. In the 1970s, around 1,500 inhabitants from the Chagos Islands were reportedly forced to leave to make way for the naval base construction at Diego Garcia, which was leased to the US in 1966.
In 2016, Diego Garcia's lease agreement was extended until 2036 with the British government stating the expelled islanders would not be allowed to go back.
Questioned on the exact reason for stopping people returning to Diego Garcia, the spokesperson emphasised that the agreement was between the UK and Mauritius.
"It’s your base, though," a reporter told him.
"We were playing the role that we often play in diplomatic agreements of this nature, which is engaging with both of the two parties and encouraging them to reach an agreement and trying to get one over the line, but it is ultimately an agreement between the two countries," Miller added.
He also went on to address media concerns over alleged future Chinese interference, with Mauritius believed to have close economic and trade relations with Beijing.
"So I'm not going to speak to it in detail, but the provisions of the agreement do give us assurances that are – we will be able to maintain the security of our base," he said.
On Thursday, the UK announced that the Chagos Islands' sovereignty would be given over to Mauritius. The US base will continue, with a 99-year lease.
Following the agreement's conclusion, the British government claimed that it secures the future of the strategically important airbase in the Indian Ocean with Foreign Secretary David Lammy declaring that the deal would 'strengthen our role in safeguarding global security'.