Well that didn’t take long. UK and US security sources have confirmed to Guido local media reports and social media speculation that Mauritius has signed an agreement with India to allow New Delhi to set up a ‘satellite tracking station’ near Chagos. The facility will be on Mauritius territory – which now means the Chagos Islands – near the base area on Diego Garcia…
Indian outlet The Economic Times describes the new base as a “strategic asset for monitoring the region”. It reported: “India and Mauritius also signed an agreement on hydrography to conduct joint surveys, prepare navigation charts and share hydrographic data of the Mauritius EEZ. Modi said India remained committed to enhancing maritime security and capacity of Mauritius.”
Guido understands the deal also includes hydrographic work in the Chagos Marine Protected Area – the waters around Diego Garcia – which Starmer signed over to Mauritius. Highly sensitive…
Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam said when the deal was signed: “We want to visit the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, to plant our flag. The British offered us a vessel, but we said we preferred one from India because, symbolically, it would be more meaningful”. Guido is told Starmer scrambled to offer a British ship when the Indian plans were revealed but was rebuffed, no longer having any leverage…
A senior UK defence official told Guido: “Starmer’s political deal has opened the door for Mauritius to carve up Chagos and allow the Indians to bring a satellite station in almost immediately. I need not remind you what side India has generally been taking in Russia-Ukraine”. A few days ago the BBC reported an Indian student was captured by the Ukrainians fighting for Russia, India has continually supplied resources to Moscow during the war…
Starmer was in India for a trade mission with this week, accompanied by Chagos sellout architect Jonathan Powell. India was a long-term supporter of Mauritius sovereignty over Chagos. With Starmer in No10, India, China, and Russia just get whatever they want…
