UK waits for Trump before signing Chagos Islands deal
Publish date: 20 January 2025
Issue Number: 1109
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General
The UK Government will not sign off on a deal to hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius until Donald Trump’s administration has had a chance to consider the future of the joint military base, Downing Street has confirmed. According to The Guardian, allies of the US President-elect have been critical of the deal because of the implications for the strategically important Diego Garcia base, with concerns that it could bolster Chinese interests in the Indian Ocean. Ministers had previously been hoping to secure an agreement with Mauritius over the islands’ future before Trump is sworn into office today. However, when asked about reports that the Mauritian Government was seeking further talks, Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson said: ‘We will only agree to a deal that is in the UK’s best interests and protect our national security. It is obviously now right that the new US administration has the chance to consider this and discuss this once they are in office … It’s perfectly reasonable for the new US administration to have a chance to consider the detail.’ The spokesperson dismissed suggestions Trump would have a ‘veto’ on the deal, after the Mauritian Government was reported to have hosted a special Cabinet meeting to discuss the latest proposals. The Mauritian Government is seeking further concessions, and rather than signing the deal off, has sent a delegation back to London for more negotiations. The UK plans to hand over its final African colony to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia base, which is used by the US, at a reported cost of £90m a year for 99 years. The UK Government argues that International Court rulings in favour of Mauritian sovereignty mean a treaty settling the future of the archipelago is the only way to guarantee the continued operation of the base.