US, not UK, most threatened by Chagos row

The United Nations on May 22 passed a non-binding resolution for the United Kingdom to relinquish the Chagos Archipelago within six months. In a crushing diplomatic defeat, the UK got only six votes in its favor while 116 countries voted against its possession of the archipelago, whereas 56 nations abstained.

It was the second time the UK had suffered a defeat on this issue in an international forum. In February, the International Court of Justice ruled that Britain should relinquish all claims over the Chagos Archipelago. As expected, the UK declined both rulings and refused to cede the…