UK to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius: CM tells Parliament read across to Gibraltar is positive

The UK has signed a deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, and lease back the military base there for £101m a year.

The Chief Minister told the Gibraltar Parliament the UK has made the right decision.

Fabian Picardo said the read across to Gibraltar is positive and particularly relevant in defence of British Sovereignty over the whole of the territory of Gibraltar - including the isthmus - and its waters.

"I am very clear that there is no aspect of this decision, the Advisory Opinion or the Treaty being entered into which has any negative read across to Gibraltar.

In fact, quite the opposite is true. Prime Minister Starmer, Foreign Secretary Lammy and Minister Doughty enjoy my Government's full support in the implementation of this decision and I know that we enjoy their full support in the defence of full British Sovereignty in respect of the whole of Gibraltar and its waters."

ICJ position on Chagos believed to enhance and protect Gibraltar’s position in international law

Mr Picardo said the UK enjoys the Gibraltar Government’s full support and vice versa.

The Leader of the Opposition Keith Azopardi said the GSD supports the Government on sovereignty matters, asking for confirmation they have scrutinised the matter politically and legally.

The Chief Minister said the position of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is that the Chagos archipelago could not be carved out, but rather the whole territory has to be decolonised together.

Mr Picardo said the case shows that territories that are going to be decolonised cannot be divided: the territory, such as it was before the decolonisation process started, has to be decolonised in its entirety.

He says this helps to preserve Gibraltar as a unit in international law: the Rock, the waters around it and the isthmus.

He says Gibraltar didn’t think Spain’s position on Gibraltar's sovereignty had any legitimacy anyway, but the Chagos case has now "driven coach and horses through it".

Mr Picardo told Parliament the ICJ's position enhances and protects Gibraltar’s position in international law.