Mauritius PM Questions UK Deal on Chagos Islands as US Opposition Grows

The agreement to transfer sovereignty faces scrutiny from Mauritius's new leader and concerns from the incoming Trump administration over security risks.

• Mauritius's newly elected Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam has expressed doubts about a deal struck by his predecessor to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from the UK to Mauritius.
• The agreement includes a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, a key UK-US military base, which some Mauritian officials claim undermines their sovereignty over the islands.
• US President-elect Donald Trump’s team, including Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, has criticized the deal, citing potential threats to US national security due to Mauritius's ties with China.
• UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government plans to send National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell to Washington to address US concerns and secure Trump administration support for the agreement.
• Chagossian groups have protested their exclusion from the negotiations, demanding greater involvement and recognition in decisions about the islands' future.

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