International court rulings or official government announcements

UK Warned of Russian Meddling in Chagos Deal as Starmer Promises Millions

Dec 1, 2024, 09:00 AM

The UK government was reportedly warned of Russian interference in the negotiations over the Chagos Islands, aiming to undermine British interests by encouraging Mauritian claims to the territory. This comes in the context of Britain's decision to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move influenced by a 2019 UN vote where China and Russia, supported by countries like Syria, North Korea, and Belarus, deemed the dispute a matter of decolonization. The decision has been criticized as a betrayal of British sovereignty, with concerns raised over the financial implications, including the millions of pounds reportedly promised by Keir Starmer to Mauritius, and the lack of transparency regarding the costs involved in the deal. Critics argue that this handover overshoots the goal of decolonization and questions remain about the integrity of the process given the alleged Russian involvement, especially as the UK aims to ram through a Treaty.