The UK and Mauritius are making good progress in talks to save a deal about the Chagos Islands. The UK government, led by Sir Keir Starmer, is thinking about paying Mauritius more money upfront to make the agreement better. This deal involves the UK giving up control of the Chagos Islands in the British Indian Ocean and renting back an important military base that the UK and US share.
Things got a bit tricky after Mauritius elected a new prime minister last year, and there were also concerns from Donald Trump’s team in the US. The UK had already agreed to give up control of the islands after a long legal battle. The International Court of Justice and the United Nations both said Mauritius has a right to the islands.
However, the Conservative Party in the UK thinks this is a bad idea. Marco Rubio, who is Trump’s choice for Secretary of State, has said this deal could harm US security because of what it means for the Diego Garcia base.
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navin Ramgoolam, wants to finalize the deal before Trump takes office on January 20. He has asked for more money during the talks, saying that the previous deal wouldn’t give Mauritius the benefits it needs.
Downing Street has not said how much the deal will cost British taxpayers. But reports say it might be around £90 million each year, with an upfront payment covering several years.
In a joint statement, both the UK and Mauritian governments said they are committed to reaching an agreement. They believe the deal will make Mauritius the owner of the Chagos Islands while also ensuring the military base on Diego Garcia continues to operate effectively.
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