Donald Trump may still veto Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, despite the Prime Minister’s determination to push ahead with the agreement.
With reports suggesting that the UK and Mauritius have reached an understanding regarding the Indian Ocean archipelago, a White House spokesperson said that President Trump has not approved the deal.
Concerns remain over the strategic US-UK military base on Diego Garcia and the potential for Chinese interference if Britain relinquishes sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. While the Biden administration had backed the agreement negotiated last year, Trump has reportedly been advised by Brexiteers and right-wing figures in the UK to block the handover.
Reports that Starmer’s government has finalized a deal with Mauritius and secured Trump’s support have been denied by the White House.
A White House official stated: “The Trump administration continues to review the British government’s agreement with Mauritius and potential implications for Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.”
Financial Blowback on Chagos Islands Deal
It is understood that newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will discuss the issue at a security conference in Munich next week.
During their initial conversation, Rubio reportedly raised concerns about potential Chinese influence in the region. The matter may also be addressed when Starmer meets Trump in the coming weeks.
The setback follows reports that the latest agreement is less favorable than the one negotiated last year.
Since the original deal, Mauritius has undergone a change in government, with new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam stating that the previous terms were “not good enough.”
Speculation is mounting that the UK could end up paying £18 billion — double the original £9 billion — to lease back Diego Garcia for 99 years. Additionally, unlike the prior agreement, there would be no automatic extension beyond the lease period.
Despite repeated assurances from government ministers in Parliament that the costs of the deal would be disclosed, reports indicate that these financial details may remain undisclosed. A Foreign Office spokesperson dismissed these claims, stating: “This reporting is incorrect.”
“The figures being quoted are entirely inaccurate and misleading. There has been no change to the terms of extension in the treaty. The UK will only sign a deal that is in our national interest.”
A Foreign Office spokesperson
Tensions Mount Over Transparency
The controversy intensified following remarks made by Ramgoolam in the Mauritian Parliament, where he confirmed that an agreement between the UK and Mauritius regarding the Chagos Islands would be signed. However, he added that Britain is still awaiting approval from the Trump administration.
In the UK, the prime minister’s official spokesperson told journalists that details of the treaty would be presented to Parliament “in the usual way” once finalized. However, officials repeatedly refused to confirm whether the financial details of the deal would be disclosed.
They also declined to say whether Starmer was confident that Trump would approve the agreement.
“We are in a new US administration. It’s only right that they have the opportunity to consider it fully, and we are giving them the opportunity to do so.”
UK officials
The potential for a secretive deal has angered the Chagossian community, which has been excluded from negotiations despite long-standing demands for the right to return to their homeland.
A spokesperson for the Chagossians stated: “The UK government still has not made any contact with the Chagossian community regarding the deal. Our lawyer sent them a letter last week, and we are still awaiting a response from them.”
The proposed agreement has also faced backlash from the Conservative opposition. Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois criticized the lack of transparency.
“It is utterly unacceptable that Mauritian MPs seem to know more about this deal than our own MPs in Parliament. With the defence budget already under immense strain, the government not only can’t say how much we’d be paying to rent back our own islands, they don’t even know which department would foot the bill. If the reported £18bn figure is true, this is financial and strategic madness.”
Mark Francois
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel launched a scathing attack on the deal, accusing Starmer of prioritizing political optics over national security.
“It seems Keir Starmer has learnt absolutely nothing—and is still putting his leftie shame of our country’s history over our national security and our longstanding relationship with our closest ally.
“Starmer and David Lammy must urgently explain their epic failure of diplomacy, which is putting our special relationship at risk while they play pathetic gesture politics.”
Dame Priti Patel
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