Boris Johnson reveals how the UK is about to ‘haul down the flag’ on the British Indian Ocean Territory – including a major Western military base – and hand to an ally of China, in latest Mail column

• Chagos Islands are to be returned to Mauritius, the former PM reveals 
• Archipelago includes sensitive Anglo-American military base on Diego Garcia  

Britain is surrendering UK-owned territory the Chagos Islands to a close ally of China, Boris Johnson says in his Daily Mail column today.

The former Prime Minister revealed it was ‘a done deal’ to abandon the militarily strategic group of islands in the Indian Ocean.

The archipelago, including Diego Garcia which hosts a highly sensitive Anglo-American military base, is to be handed over to Mauritius as part of a transfer of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, he said.

Mauritius is a close ally of China. The plan has triggered ‘serious concerns’ in the White House due to the concentration of Western military hardware on Diego Garcia – first claimed by the UK in 1814 – which has been called ‘the unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean’.

Mr Johnson said it was an ‘utterly spineless’ decision to abandon the islands, which played a crucial role in the first Gulf War to liberate Kuwait, in 2001 to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan and in the Iraq war in 2003.

Revealing the development in his column – which will be available on MailOnline at 5pm – the ex-PM says: ‘Now, if my sources are correct, we are about to hand our title away – and for no good reason.

‘It seems that this country is on the verge of a colossal mistake. After more than two centuries of uninterrupted British sovereignty we are apparently about to perform a U-turn and abandon the British Indian Ocean Territories.

‘Just as the Chinese are building runways over every reef and atoll they can find – places that have never been Chinese possessions – we are throwing in the sponge. We are about to haul down the flag, casting doubt on a major western strategic asset.’

The former Prime Minister revealed it was ‘a done deal’ to abandon the militarily strategic group of islands in the Indian Ocean.

The archipelago, including Diego Garcia which hosts a highly sensitive Anglo-American military base (pictured), are to be handed over to Mauritius as part of a transfer of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory, he said.

The Pentagon fears Beijing is looking for a similar military foothold in the region and even possibly on Diego Garcia. Washington has been increasingly concerned by the growing relationship between Mauritius and China.

The British base, which is leased to the US Navy, is home to some 1,700 military personnel and 1,500 civilian contractors, and includes port facilities, an airstrip capable of handling large aircraft, a support structure for submarine fleets, a sophisticated radar nerve centre and US Space Operations Command.

The Pentagon fears Beijing is looking for a similar military foothold in the region and even possibly on Diego Garcia. Washington has been increasingly concerned by the growing relationship between Mauritius and China.

Mr Johnson said: ‘The Americans don’t give us crucial nuclear secrets just because they love little old England. They don’t share intelligence because they adore our quaint accents. We have a great and indispensable relationship because we have important things to offer – including Diego Garcia.’

Negotiations have been under way since the International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that the UK’s occupation of the islands was unlawful. Although the court’s rulings are non-binding, pressure has been growing internationally – with China offering backing to Mauritius’s claim to the islands, even though it is 1,300 miles away.

Foreign Office lawyers advised that a negotiated settlement needed to be found to avoid a prolonged legal case.

The Government previously rejected Mauritian claims over the islands, insisting that it would cede sovereignty only when the territory is no longer needed by Britain for defence purposes. But following international pressure, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly agreed to broker an agreement backed by international law to ‘resolve all outstanding issues’ while ensuring the effective operation of the base.

The Foreign Office has previously insisted of the talks: ‘The UK and Mauritius have committed to protecting the operational effectiveness of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia, which performs a vital role for regional and global security.’

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