Plan ‘surrender’ the Chagos Islands is ‘absolute madness’ | Politics | News

Great Britain’s plan to deliver the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauricio when China is strengthening its influence on the Indo-Pacific is an act of “absolute madness”: a former Australian prime minister warned.

Tony Abbott, who demonstrated in support of the Falklands campaign when a student in Oxford is horrified that the United Kingdom could deliver the “perpetual control” of the territory.

He fears yes Vladimir Putin gain Ukraine Then, other “thug” states will turn on their neighbors and warn that they will not give China a new “opening” in the Indian Ocean.

“The Malvinas were sized by the Argentines,” he said. “In this case, Diego García is being delivered by the current British government.

“Look, I think this is an act of monumental madness … This is an act of absolute madness.

“In addition to the fact that Great Britain has much better things to spend money, in addition to the fact that Great Britain should not put its perpetual control of this important territory at risk, why would it give China, the great strategic competitor of West, a given opening, is the fact that China is always trying to subordinate these little island nations?

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Shadow, Dame, Priti Patel, said: “The desperate attempts of the Laborists for delivering Chagos Island are deeply harmful to the position of this country on the world stage. When paying billions of cash pounds from taxpayers to give the national security of us and our friends and allies, this government is making it clear that it cannot be taken seriously, and will be transferred instead of defending Britain.

“Keir Starmer And David Lammy should discard all this unfortunate matter before it is too late. ”

Its alarm echoes the former Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom for defense.

Sir Gavin Williamson said: “What the government is doing is absolute madness and strategic madness of monumental proportions. We are literally looking to have to borrow billions of pounds and tax our population to deliver such a strategically important and valuable basis.

“It is indeed the safer aircraft barrier that allows it to influence the Indian Ocean. There is no logic of what the Government proposes from doing from a military, security or world point of view and national interest. “

Former Defense Secretary Sir Liam Fox said: “This is a government betrayal government. Pensioners, farmers, Brexit and now our strategic interests and the security of Great Britain and its allies.

“Who can trust them never?”

The Labor Government announced in October that it would give the sovereignty of Mauricio of the Chagos Islands, home of the American military base of Diego García. According to the arrangements, Great Britain would make payments for a 99 -year -old lease contract on the basis.

More than 1,000 people were evicted to give way to the base. Mauricio insists that the islands are theirs and a ruling of the United Nations Advisory Court declared that the British administration of the territory is “illegal.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “The agreement of the Chagos Islands is essential for our national security. The agreement ensures the joint base of the United Kingdom in Diego García and without it, the operation of the base is at risk.

“This includes a damping area around Diego García in which nothing can be built or placed without the consent of the United Kingdom and a comprehensive review mechanism to ensure that no activity in the other islands can threaten operations or base safety “

Alan Mendoza, of the group of experts of the foreign policy of Henry Jackson society, said: “The British government is pretending that the surrender of the Chagos Islands is a legal issue, when in reality it is a matter of political will … in place to sink, sir Keir Starmer If summoning the spirit of Britannia and reminding the world that, as a global democracy and power established for a long time, we will determine our own course of action when it comes to problems that affect our national security and defense of our interests. “