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Chagos Islands
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May be clutching at straws but; might this tie things up for years, thus avoiding having to invade the islands later to return possession after the traitorous bunch at Westminster have been booted out ?
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"...perhaps UK territories will just fall into his lap."
They won't be given to the USA whilst Trump is President.
Surkier hates the current President almost as much as he detests most of the UK electorate - and that's saying something.
However, the oaf who currently masquerades as His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs may hold some sway, though. He has changed his view of The President. He is on record as calling him (variously) a "tyrant"; a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath”; a “dangerous clown” and a “racist KKK and Nazi sympathizer”.
However, after the President arranged for him to be served an extra portion of fried chicken (which, looking at Mr Lammy's physique, he would have done well to decline) he described him as "someone that we can build a relationship with in our national interest".
Lots of things happen on the Road to Damascus.
'Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to give away the Chagos Islands will cost the UK up to £30 billion.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister was accused of “lying to the public” as he announced the agreement to give the Indian Ocean island chain to Mauritius and rent back a key military base.
He claimed that the deal would cost £101 million annually, amounting to £3.4 billion over 99 years.
However, the true cost will probably exceed £30 billion in cash terms because of rising inflation and additional schemes to fund development projects in Mauritius.
The UK will also be obliged to give notice if it plans to launch an attack from the Diego Garcia military base under the deal, which critics opposed because of security concerns over the close ties between Mauritius, China and Russia..... '
Today's Telegraph
With inflation at just 2% annually, the total for 100 years comes to £31.2bn.
If inflation remains at this month's figure of 3.5%, the total is £86.2bn.
If all the money has to be borrowed (which is almost certain) borrowing costs (assuming a modest 3% pa interest) add an extra £0.9bn and £2.5bn respectively.
Tricky chap, inflation, especially over 100 years.
Whatever the cost, the rationale behind this decision has not been explained.
I believe they have estimated what the future annual amounts, adjusted for inflation, would be at to-day’s rates.
Having said that, after the thirteenth year, the Agreement shows the annual amounts are increased by the previous year's inflation rate.
If that is what has been done, I cannot understand why it has been said the average is £101 million a year but the total is only £3.4 billion.
I'm sure someone knows what they're doing...
Starmer’s press conference on the Chagos surrender was packed full of excuses for the handover. They don’t wash…
The ‘electromagnetic spectrum’ at Diego Garcia could be restricted by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), “rendering it practically useless” “if “our right to control it is put into doubt.”
ITU does not engage in territorial disputes, and would not act against a crucial US base.
Labour has admitted: “The ITU cannot challenge the UK’s use of civilian or military spectrum.” It is not within its remit…
“If we did not agree this deal… we would not be able to prevent China or any other nation setting up their own bases on the outer islands or carrying out joint exercises near our base.”
If the UK did not agree the deal it would still have sovereignty over all of the islands and foreign powers’ attempts to set up bases would be repelled by the UK military.
China is allied to Mauritius, which now has sovereignty over the islands.
“In favour are all of our allies, the US, NATO, Five Eyes, India. Against it, Russia, China, Iran and, surprisingly, the leader of the opposition and Nigel Farage are in that column alongside Russia, China and Iran, rather than the column that has the UK and its allies in it.”
A Chinese former Chinese Communist Party official, while serving as the ICJ’s vice president, ruled that that the UK must give the islands to Mauritius “as rapidly as possible.“
A Russian international judge and Putin ally also pushed for the handover of the islands.
China and Russia voted in favour of a 2019 UNGA motion calling for “the decolonisation of Mauritius in accordance with the advisory opinion of the Court.“
A US judge was the only one to vote against the 2019 ICJ advisory ruling.
“The average £100 million per year is about the same, or slightly less than, the running cost of an aircraft carrier, minus the aircraft… measured against an aircraft carrier running costs that this is very good value for money.”
The UK can only currently afford two aircraft carriers. Fancy another? Sorry, that cash is for Mauritius now…
“International legal proceedings would have rendered the base inoperable.”
There is no evidence for this assertion.
“What’s the net cost today? And that is £3.4 billion. Obviously, over time with inflation, then that is the net cost.”The net cost of the Chagos deal is £30.3 billion.
£165 million in a year for first three years plus £120 million a year for the next ten years, then £120 million with (say 2% average) inflation for the remainder.
£45 million per year development fund for 25 years, and a £40 million one-off payment to a fund for Chagossians.
Documents show that the UK will pay £495 million to Mauritius over the next three years in front-loaded cash for the deal. Taxes are going up at the next budget…
"A Chinese former Chinese Communist Party official, while serving as the ICJ’s vice president, ruled that that the UK must give the islands to Mauritius “as rapidly as possible.“
The ICJ would have no jurisdiction in a dispute between the UK and a former Commonwealth country.
“…measured against an aircraft carrier running costs that this [£100m pa] is very good value for money.”
If you compare it to an aircraft carrier permanently moored in one place, that is. What a ridiculous comparison to make.
