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The United Kingdom is currently awaiting approval from President-elect Donald Trump before finalizing a crucial deal with Mauritius regarding the future of a strategic UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean. Recent reports suggest that negotiations between the UK government and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands have been progressing well, with London offering to frontload payments to Port Louis for a proposed 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, the largest atoll in the archipelago and home to the important defense base.
While initial optimism had led to hopes of securing an agreement before Trump’s inauguration on January 20th, it now appears that the UK is no longer pushing for a formal announcement of the deal until it has received explicit approval from the incoming administration. A special Cabinet meeting is scheduled in Mauritius on Wednesday to discuss and potentially approve the latest proposals.
British officials have indicated that good progress has been made in the negotiations, but there is a recognition that finalizing the deal before next Monday may not be feasible. A senior UK Foreign Office official is currently in Washington for talks with representatives from both the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump team to ensure alignment on the agreement.
Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has previously expressed concerns about the deal, citing potential implications for Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean. Incoming national security adviser Mike Waltz has also raised objections, warning that the negotiations could jeopardize the Diego Garcia naval facility.
Despite these concerns, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has expressed confidence that US officials, including those in the White House, Pentagon, Department of Defense, and intelligence agencies, support the proposal. However, Trump has not publicly commented on the deal, and it was not discussed during his recent phone call with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The UK government has emphasized that it is not seeking to pressure the US into backing the deal, which focuses on the future of the joint military base on Diego Garcia. Negotiations had to be revisited after the Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth, with whom an initial deal was agreed last October, was removed from office following a general election.
The new Mauritian prime minister, Navin Ramgoolam, has indicated that the terms of the agreement need to be reviewed and improved, including a shorter lease and increased financial compensation. Satyajit Boolell, a former Mauritian director of public prosecutions, has suggested that direct negotiations between Mauritius and the US may be necessary to address sovereignty issues over Diego Garcia.
While the UK government initiated negotiations with Mauritius in 2022 following a UN court ruling on Chagos Islands sovereignty, the Conservative party has recently criticized the proposed deal. Shadow Tory foreign secretary Priti Patel has accused Starmer of surrendering sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, labeling the agreement as a “shameful failure of British diplomacy.”
In response, the Foreign Office has reiterated that the deal will only be finalized if it aligns with the UK’s national interests and respects red lines set by both the UK and US. The timeline for the agreement remains flexible, with an emphasis on ensuring a deal that benefits all parties involved.
Overall, the negotiations between the UK and Mauritius over the Chagos Islands and the future of the military base on Diego Garcia are complex and sensitive. As discussions continue, it will be crucial to navigate the various political considerations and ensure that any final agreement is in the best interests of all stakeholders.
