Alison Blake , the appointed governor of the British colony that usurps the Malvinas Islands from Argentina, today referred to the news that the United Kingdom will hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to the Republic of Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean. And to do so, she pointed out differences with the Argentine claim to the Atlantic islands, in light of the comparisons that have been made in recent hours.

Speaking after the news of the historic agreement, Blake said: “I am aware that there may be concerns, whether within the Malvina Islands community or others, about a possible reading on the Malvina Islands.”

“I want to assure you that the legal and historical contexts of the Chagos Archipelago and the Malvina Islands are very different,” stressed the illegitimate governor, appointed by London to that position in 2022, in a statement shared by X.

Statement to the #Malvinas by Her Excellency the Governor regarding the political agreement between the UK and Mauritius:#SelfDetermination pic.twitter.com/EUEsWHma0E

“UK Ministers have been very clear throughout the process that the UK will not agree to anything that risks jeopardising sovereignty in the Overseas Territories. The UK Government remains committed to upholding the right to self-determination of the Malvina Islands people, and the UK’s unwavering commitment to upholding their sovereignty remains intact ,” Blake said.

The United Kingdom announced Thursday that it will return the Chagos Archipelago to the Republic of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, following a "historic agreement" that will allow the British to maintain a joint military base with the United States.

With this agreement, applauded by US President Joe Biden , the joint military base on Diego Garcia , the largest of the 55 islands in the archipelago, will be maintained, a strategic location that plays an "essential role in regional and global security," said the British Foreign Office.

“The status of the base will remain unchallenged and legally secure. The agreement supports the United Kingdom’s firm duty to maintain security in the area, without changes to the operation of the military base, in an increasingly volatile world,” the Foreign Office added.

The Mauritian authorities expressed enthusiasm for the agreement. “October 3, 2024. An unforgettable day, to commemorate the full sovereignty of the Republic of Mauritius over its entire territory,” commented the African country’s Foreign Minister, Maneesh Gobin, on social media.

Under the agreement, Britain will retain rights to Diego Garcia for “an initial period of 99 years” to ensure the military base remains in operation “ well into the next century.”

The Republic of Mauritius, a country made up of a group of islands almost a thousand kilometres east of Madagascar, has claimed the archipelago since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1968.

Since 1965, the archipelago has been administered by the United Kingdom, which established a joint military base with the United States on the main island. In order to establish the base, the United Kingdom deported some 2,000 Chagossians to Mauritius, which accused the British authorities of “illegal occupation.”

The treaty could pave the way for the return of Chagos Islanders, by speaking of “ implementing a resettlement programme on the islands”, excluding Diego Garcia.

“After two years of negotiations, this is a crucial moment in our relations and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law ,” the United Kingdom and Mauritius said in their joint statement.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice, based in The Hague, advised the UK to give up control of the islands, a ruling that won international support and the UN General Assembly also voted in favour of British withdrawal.

At the time, the Argentine Foreign Ministry welcomed the Hague ruling. “ The Chagos Advisory Opinion is relevant to the Question of the Malvinas Islands because it deals with a situation of territorial dismemberment, and refers to principles that are fundamental to the claim on our Islands,” said the San Martín Palace, then headed by Jorge Faurie under the government of Mauricio Macri.