Recent historic political agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom over the Chagos Archipelago has been met with applause from US President Joe Biden. The agreement allows the US to maintain its military base on Diego Garcia while giving Chagossians limited rights to return to smaller islands in the archipelago.
Diego Garcia’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean has been crucial for US operations in the Middle East, especially during the “war on terror”. The base played a significant role in the controversial “extraordinary rendition program”, where detainees were captured and interrogated without legal oversight.
Despite denials from American and British officials, evidence eventually surfaced confirming the base’s involvement in the program. British authorities even lobbied to hide the truth from the US Senate. Both countries have avoided accountability, with the UK claiming key documents were lost due to “water damage.”
The recent UK-Mauritius agreement, while seen as a diplomatic victory, highlights the continued secrecy surrounding Diego Garcia’s operations. It raises questions about Western credibility and accountability in the face of international law violations.
Overall, the agreement serves as a stark reminder of the challenges in addressing past wrongdoings and holding influential powers accountable.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.