RULES FOR THEE NOT FOR ME

While Britain loudly proclaims a ‘rules based order,’ it has no qualms flouting international rulings to retain control over territories. Take the example of the Chagos Archipelago. Despite a 2019 International Court of Justice ruling and repeated UN resolutions affirming Mauritius' sovereignty, Britain resisted compliance until recently. However, a 2024 deal to cede control contains a caveat that allows its main geopolitical ally to retain a foothold - stating that the US can keep its military base on Diego Garcia (one of the archipelago’s islands) for another century. This is a clear continuation of a legacy of colonialism, which saw the forced displacement of Chagossians in the 1960s, facilitated by Anglo-American collusion, and left enduring scars of poverty, displacement and exploitation.

Efforts to address these injustices have faced sustained British resistance, from manipulating court rulings to creating a marine reserve as a pretext for preventing the return of displaced communities. While the 2024 agreement between Britain and Mauritius was hailed by some as progress, it has been criticised for excluding Chagossians from negotiations and perpetuating Western dominance through Diego Garcia's extended lease.