UK will not agree Chagos Islands deal until Trump becomes president

UK will wait until Donald Trumps in inauguration to sign off deal with Chagos Islands Credit: AP/ PA

The UK will not sign off a deal to relinquish control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until Donald Trump’s new US administration is installed and consulted, Downing Street has said.

Those around the president-elect have been critical of the deal due to the implications of the strategically important Diego Garcia military base used by the US and UK.

When asked about reports the Mauritian government is seeking further talks, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: "We will only agree to a deal that is in the UK’s best interests and protect our national security," when asked about reports the Mauritian government is seeking further talks.

He added: "It is obviously now right that the new US administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office."

The prime minister faces further negotiations over his plan to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, with the Mauritian government seeking another round of talks.

The Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam did not sign off on the proposed deal and are sending a delegation back to London for further negotiations.

Asked if this meant the UK would not sign a deal before Tuesday, by which time Trump would've officially taken office, the spokesman said: "You can take from what I have just said about that, the new US administration."

He steered away from suggestions Trump would have a "veto" on the deal, and also said: "It is perfectly reasonable for the new US administration to actually consider the detail and we will obviously have those discussions with them."

The UK plans to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius and then lease back the Diego Garcia military base which is used by the US, at a reported cost of £90 million a year.

The Mauritian government said talks will continue on the Chagos Islands deal, with attorney general Gavin Glover returning to the UK for further negotiations.

Chagossians protest outside parliament last year Credit: AP

The Labour administration concluded a deal with Ramgoolam’s predecessor, but the change of government in Mauritius and Donald Trump’s election in the US have stalled progress.

Sir Keir defended his plan in parliament on Wednesday, insisting his plan is the best way to safeguard the use of the military base.

In response to criticism from Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, he said: "We inherited a situation where the long-term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenge.

“The negotiations were started under the last government. The then foreign secretary came to this House to say why he was starting negotiations and what he wanted to achieve. He said the aim was to ‘ensure the continued effective operation of the base’.

“That is precisely what this deal has delivered.”

Kemi Badenoch criticises Starmer over deal with Chagos Islands Credit: PA

Badenoch said Sir Keir was “negotiating a secret deal to surrender British territory and taxpayers in this country will pay for the humiliation”.

A statement issued by the Mauritian government said the Cabinet had been “informed of developments” following attorney general Gavin Glover’s talks in London last week but had decided that negotiations should continue.

“The attorney general will travel again this evening in order to continue with the discussions in London.

“Upon his return, Cabinet will then be apprised of the situation.

“The commitment and resolve of Mauritius to reach an agreement and end this long battle for the sovereignty of Mauritius over the Chagos Archipelago remains unshaken.”

The Mauritian prime minister had previously told the nation's parliament that the UK wanted to conclude a deal before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

The president-elect’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, warned in October that the agreement posed “a serious threat” to US national security by handing over the islands to a country allied with China.

And Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage, an ally of Trump, has warned of “very deep disquiet” about the deal in the president-elect’s inner circle.

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