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Sir Keir Starmer is set to finalize an agreement transferring the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on Thursday. This deal would see Mauritius gaining sovereignty over the islands from the UK, while permitting the US and UK to maintain a crucial military base on one of the islands for an initial 99-year period in exchange for a substantial financial compensation.
Initially announced last October after negotiations with former Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth, the plan to transfer control of the Chagos Islands, officially referred to as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), faced obstacles following the election of current Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam. Concerns were raised regarding the agreement, with delays also occurring after the election of the Trump administration as negotiations were paused for a thorough examination of the details.
Despite initial reservations expressed by high-profile Republicans, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, citing national security concerns due to Mauritius’ ties with China, recent indications suggest that Trump is inclined to support the deal. This shift in support comes as the UK aims to secure a deal that safeguards the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is deemed essential for national security.
A meeting scheduled between representatives of the Chagossian community and government officials aims to delve into discussions surrounding the sovereignty of the territory and related projects. The British government faces mounting international pressure to hand over control of the archipelago, following UN bodies’ support for Mauritian sovereignty claims in recent years. The upcoming signing ceremony and subsequent update to MPs in the House of Commons are expected to shed light on the terms of the deal, potentially including provisions for a 40-year extension to the lease of the military base, as emphasized by Defence Secretary John Healey
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