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The UK has confirmed it will not finalise a deal to transfer control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until President-elect Donald Trump’s new U.S. administration is in place and consulted.
This delay stems from concerns within Trump’s inner circle, particularly regarding the strategic Diego Garcia military base, which is used by both the U.S. and the UK, ITVx reports on Thursday.
The UK government emphasised on Wednesday that it will only agree to a deal “that is in the UK’s best interests and protects our national security.”
When questioned about Mauritius’ request for further discussions, the prime minister’s spokesman, Matthew Doyle, added, “It is obviously now right that the new U.S. administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office.”
Mauritius has confirmed that further negotiations will take place, with Attorney General Gavin Glover returning to London for more talks.
The UK plans to cede sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, while leasing the Diego Garcia base back to the U.S. for an estimated £90 million annually.
Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam did not sign off on the previous deal and is sending a delegation back to London for additional negotiations.
Asked if this meant the UK would not finalise the deal before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the spokesman reiterated, “You can take from what I have just said about that, the new U.S. administration.”
While Sir Keir Starmer defended the plan in Parliament, asserting that it “delivers the continued effective operation of the base,” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the negotiations, calling it a “secret deal to surrender British territory.”
The Mauritian government remains steadfast in its pursuit of the islands, with a statement confirming that the Cabinet has been briefed on developments following last week’s talks in London.
“The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for sovereignty remains unshaken,” the statement read.
The Chagos Islands, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, remain highly contentious, PUNCH Online reports.
The forced removal of the indigenous Chagossian people in the 1960s and 1970s to accommodate the U.S. military base has sparked ongoing legal and human rights battles.
The International Court of Justice ruled in favour of Mauritius, though the UK has yet to implement the ruling.
