UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Ex-British Army chief Lord Dannatt criticizes Starmer’s Chagos deal, urging the UK to give control to the US over Mauritius, citing security & financial concerns.
Mr Dannatt calls on the Labour leader to drop the Chagos deal with Mauritius and reconsider handing control to America.
What did the former Army chief say about Keir Starmer’s Chagos deal?
Mr Dannatt slammed the prime minister’s plan to transfer control of the Indian Ocean archipelago, arguing it lacks clear benefits and raises worries over financial viability.
He slammed the crucial aspect of the agreement designed to ensure the security of the top-secret US-UK airbase on Diego Garcia, arguing that a 99-year lease is insufficient.
In an interview with Times Radio, the former army chief stated,
“If we think we can find 18 billion pounds to buy off Mauritius, frankly, there are much better uses for that £18bn, not the least of which is on the army and UK defence to spend on things that matter to us.”
Why is Lord Dannatt critical of Keir Starmer’s Chagos policy and Trump’s reaction?
The Britain-Mauritius deal has caught the attention of the newly elected American president, amid rising speculation that he may oppose and potentially veto the agreement.
Mr Dannatt expressed concerns over President Trump’s anger with Britain, which he said is justified, also questioning why Keir Starmer’s government persists with the Chagos deal.
When a question was asked about whether Sir Keir should hand over control of the Chagos Islands to the US, Lord Dannatt responded,
“I think, to be honest, that’s something that should be explored. Donald Trump has made it quite clear that the deal that’s on the table is a bad deal.”
He suggests that Keir Starmer might propose a Greenland-style arrangement to Donald Trump, allowing the US to assume control of the Chagos Islands for security reasons.
What did Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam say about the Chagos deal with the UK?
Before Donald Trump’s inauguration, the newly elected Mauritian PM criticized Keir Starmer’s government for rushing through the Chagos deal.
Mr Ramgoolam expressed worries over the 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, home to a US-UK airbase, stating it was an essential reason for seeking to renegotiate the Oct 3 deal.
While addressing the Mauritian National Assembly On February 4, the Mauritian PM stated that he had discussed the Chagos Islands deal with Keir Starmer.
Mr Ramgoolam added,
“The British prime minister informed me that he intends to push ahead with the agreement reached between Mauritius and the United Kingdom on the Chagos archipelago.”
How did Keir Starmer’s spokesperson respond to Navin Ramgoolam’s statement?
No 10 refrained from commenting on a potential Chagos Islands agreement after Mauritius’ PM claimed Keir Starmer was optimistic about reaching a deal in weeks.
When asked about the deal, a Downing Street representative stated,
“We will not be giving a running commentary on the deal.”
He added that Parliament would review the treaty details once a deal is finalized and the new US administration should have the opportunity to assess the agreement.
How did the Tories react to reports of the Chagos Islands deal cost surpassing £9bn?
The Tory party has voiced strong opposition to new reports about the proposed Chagos Islands deal transferring sovereignty to Mauritius.
In a statement, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused Keir Starmer of being driven by “left-wing shame” over Britain’s historical actions.
Mark Francois, a defence minister commenting on a Times report that the Chagos Island deal has surged to £18bn, criticized the lack of transparency, stating,
“It’s unacceptable that Mauritian MPs are more informed about this deal than our own MPs.”
In response, the UK government source dismissed claims that the deal’s cost would reach £18bn.