Argentina last night vowed to gain control of the Falkland Islands in the wake of Keir Starmers decision to hand by the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than 200 years as a British territory.
Buenos Aires foreign minister Diana Mondino vowed to seek full sovereignty of the Islands in the South Atlantic, which have never been part of her countrys territory.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing major pressure over what critics said was the surrender of Chagos, a strategically important archipelago in the Indian Ocean that is the site of the US air base at Diego Garcia.
Fears were raised that it could encourage those seeking a change of control over other British territories, including the Falklands and Gibraltar, which is claimed by Spain.
In an intervention that will fuel rising Tory criticism of the UK-Mauritius agreement and its perceived implications for other overseas territories, Ms Mondino said: The long dispute between Britain and Mauritius came to a conclusion today, with Mauritians successfully regaining their territory of Chagos.
We welcome this step in the right direction and the end to outdated practices. Following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands.
It came as former prime minister Boris Johnson added his voice to those condemning the handover of the Chagos Islands, pointing out they were a long way from Mauritius.
Buenos Aires foreign minister Diana Mondino vowed to seek full sovereignty of the Islands in the South Atlantic, which have never been part of her countrys territory and were the site of the war in 1982 that Britain won (PICTURED)
Sir Keir Starmer is facing major pressure over what critics said was the surrender of Chagos, a strategically important archipelago in the Indian Ocean that is the site of the US air base at Diego Garcia.
In an intervention that will fuel rising Tory criticism of the UK-Mauritius agreement and its perceived implications for other overseas territories, Ms Mondino said: We welcome this step in the right direction and the end to outdated practices. Following the path we have already taken, with concrete actions and not empty rhetoric, we will recover full sovereignty over our Malvinas Islands.
It came as former prime minister Boris Johnson added his voice to those condemning the handover of the Chagos Islands, pointing out they were a long way from Mauritius.
He said: What is this claim? It’s nonsense. It’s total nonsense. Why are we doing this?
It’s sheer political correctness. A desire to look like the good guys. A desire to look as though we are unbundling the last relics of our empire.
It’s nonsense. It’s a bad idea in hard geopolitical terms because the base in Diego Garcia ... is of huge strategic importance for the US, for the West and it’s a key component of the Anglo-American alliance.
It’s one of the things we bring to the table. It has been for decades, that base. Why are we trading away our sovereignty over it?
In a statement earlier on Thursday, Falklands governor Alison Blake sought to reassure residents that Britains commitment to the South Atlantic territory was unwavering.
She said the historical context of the two territories was very different.
Critics warned that the Prime Ministers move to relinquish sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius – an ally of China – could threaten global security.
Critics warned that the Prime Ministers move to relinquish sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius – an ally of China – could threaten global security.
Ceding control of the cluster in the Indian Ocean after more than 200 years could also strengthen Beijings influence against the West.
The UK Government said the agreement would secure the future of the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands, after decades of international wrangling.
But there was concern China could seek to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific by building on one of Chagos many surrounding uninhabited islands.
Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory party leader and leading China hawk, told the Mail it would be madness to hand the islands over to a country with bilateral ties to Beijing.
He added: This is a huge mistake – a fatal mistake. Were the worst country in the world for understanding our strategic arrangements – make no mistake, the free world will be in danger.
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick added: Its taken three months for Starmer to surrender Britains strategic interests.
This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.
Fellow hopeful Tom Tugendhat said: That [agreement] covers Diego Garcia. What about the other islands? Mauritius is free to rent them out to anybody else including, for example, China.
This deal not only threatens our security but also undermines our allies, opening the possibility of China gaining a military foothold in the Indian Ocean.
The Times reported last night that Sir Keir renounced sovereignty of the Chagos Islands despite private warnings from the United States.
Over the summer, Washington asked Britain what it would take to reconsider, but the Foreign Office said it did not recognise the characterisation of those discussions as private warnings.
The islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have long been cherished by the UK because of the sprawling and secretive military base on Diego Garcia, which has refuelled Western bombers involved in tackling the Taliban in the Middle East.