The UK's agreement to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius is dependent on the approval of US President Donald Trump. Foreign Secretary David Lammy emphasized the crucial nature of US support, stating that without it, the deal would not proceed due to shared military and intelligence interests between the UK and the US. Diego Garcia, which houses a joint UK-US military base, is central to this agreement.
Negotiations between the UK and Mauritius are ongoing, involving discussions about leasing back Diego Garcia. The process has been delayed to allow the new US administration to review the deal's details. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's recent visit to Washington for talks with President Trump, primarily focused on the Ukraine war, also included discussions of the Chagos deal.
The deal's future is uncertain following Trump's re-election and concerns among some US Republicans about potential security implications for China. The cost of leasing back the military base remains undisclosed, with differing estimates circulating, and the source of funding is still debated. The agreement has faced criticism from the current Mauritian Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, who succeeded Pravind Jugnauth, the leader who initially signed the agreement with the UK.
Mauritius has long argued that it was illegally compelled to relinquish the Chagos Islands in 1968 in exchange for its independence. The UK has faced mounting international pressure to resolve the issue, particularly from various United Nations bodies that have supported Mauritius' claims.