The Chagos Islands are home to American long-range bombers (Image: Getty)
“Weak” Sir Keir Starmer was accused of a “dangerous capitulation” after giving up the Chagos Islands to a Chinese ally.
The Prime Minister handed the group of islands in the Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius.
The islands were British-owned from 1814 but have now been signed away by the Government in a deal that it claimed would safeguard global security by ending a long-running dispute.
The 60-strong island chain is home to the Diego Garcia military base, which is leased by the UK to the United States and has been used for American bombing missions in the Middle East.
The Chagos Islands are home to the Diego Garcia base (Image: Getty)
Tory leadership hopeful Robert Jenrick condemned the decision, declaring: “It’s taken three months for (Sir Keir) Starmer to surrender Britain’s strategic interests.
“This is a dangerous capitulation that will hand our territory to an ally of Beijing.”
Fellow Tory leadership candidate Tom Tugendhat said: “This is a shameful retreat undermining our security and leaving our allies exposed.”
He said the Foreign Office had “negotiated against Britain’s interest” and it was “disgraceful that these negotiations started under our watch”.
Mr Tugendhat added: “Lord Cameron rightly blocked them only to see it back under David Lammy’s complete failure of leadership.”
The US used Diego Garcia to fly bombing missions to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, and to Iraq from 2003.Since 2006, it has been used as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” facility to supply troops working in the Middle East.
Grant Shapps, a former defence secretary, said: “This is absolutely appalling.
“Surrendering sovereignty here creates read-across to other British bases. It’s a weak and deeply regrettable act from this government.”
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Tory leadership hopeful , a former foreign secretary, also criticised the British Indian Ocean Territory decision.
He said: “Weak, weak, weak! Labour lied to get into office. Said they’d be whiter than white, said they wouldn’t put up taxes, said they’d stand up to the EU, said that they be patriotic. All lies!”
Chagossians have spent decades fighting to return to the islands after more than 1,000 people were forced to leave in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the military base.
Thousands of Chagossians now live around the world, mostly in Mauritius, the UK and the Seychelles.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement on Thursday that the agreement would still secure the “vital” military base for future use.
He said: “This government inherited a situation where the long-term, secure operation of the Diego Garcia military base was under threat, with contested sovereignty and ongoing legal challenges.
“Today’s agreement secures this vital military base for the future.
“It will strengthen our role in safeguarding global security, shut down any possibility of the Indian Ocean being used as a dangerous illegal migration route to the UK, as well as guaranteeing our long-term relationship with Mauritius, a close Commonwealth partner.”
President Biden also welcomed the “historic” decision.
The US President said: “This agreement affirms Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, while granting the United Kingdom the authority to exercise the sovereign rights of Mauritius with respect to Diego Garcia.
“Diego Garcia is the site of a joint U.S.-UK military facility that plays a vital role in national, regional, and global security.
“It enables the United States to support operations that demonstrate our shared commitment to regional stability, provide rapid response to crises, and counter some of the most challenging security threats we face.
“The agreement secures the effective operation of the joint facility on Diego Garcia into the next century.
“We look forward to continuing our strong partnership with Mauritius and the United Kingdom in upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.”