UK urged to end ‘unlawful occupation’ of major strategic asset in Indian Ocean

The UK has been urged to end its “unlawful occupation” of the Chagos Islands by the prime minister of Mauritius, after Britain’s claim to sovereignty over the strategically important islands in the Indian Ocean was comprehensively rejected by the United Nation’s special international maritime court in Hamburg.

The court ruling provides a major headache as the islands represent the UK’s main strategic asset in the Indian Ocean, but a refusal to comply with the judgment will damage Britain’s international reputation for compliance with the law.

Related: ‘What about justice?’: Chagos Islanders pin their hopes on Biden

This post was originally published on Human rights | The Guardian.