Mauritius (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Mauritian PM Navin Ramgoolam expressed confidence in reaching an agreement with Britain on the Chagos Islands dispute, amid ongoing legal battles.
According to Navin Ramgoolam, his British counterpart is optimistic regarding the Chagos deal.
What did Navin Ramgoolam say about the Chagos deal?
During an answer-questions session in the Mauritian National Assembly on Tuesday, Mr Ramgoolam said Keir Starmer had contacted him on Friday to negotiate the possibility of an agreement.
He 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,” adding, “We remain confident that it will reach a speedy resolution in the coming weeks.”
How could the Chagos deal impact UK security and global relations?
Britain had finalized a deal last year to hand back control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius under the previous administration, but after assuming office in November, Navin Ramgoolam pushed to revise the terms.
The possible agreement has sparked division in Britain, as Tory leaders argue it may threaten national security due to the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the biggest island in the Chagos archipelago.
What concerns did Trump’s team raise about the Chagos deal?
Newly elected President Donald Trump’s team has voiced concerns that giving Russia control of the Chagos Islands could reduce the Western influence in the Indian Ocean and give China greater power. Mauritius, which has close ties with India, remains one of the only two countries that has not signed onto China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
A revised Chagos agreement, in which Mr Ramgoolam confirms Mauritian sovereignty over the islands and requires joint approval for any lease extension on Diego Garcia, is now being evaluated by the Trump administration.
However, under the UK’s plan, the strategic military base will be leased back for 99 years, with an estimated annual cost of around £90 million.
What did the Mauritian PM say about Donald Trump?
In the National Assembly, Mr Ramgoolam remarked, “President Trump is not a wolf. He should evaluate the agreement to determine its merit.”
He added,
“Now the British have, late in the day, decided that, yes, it is better to let the new administration have a look, that is what the situation is.”
What was Mr Ramgoolam’s stance on the revised Chagos deal?
The Mauritian PM pointed out that under the new agreement, Britain may be required to pay a higher amount compared to what was settled with the previous government, describing the original agreement as a “sellout.”
According to him, the revised agreement would tie the UK’s yearly payments to Mauritius to inflation and frontload them, a move which he believed could increase Britain’s financial commitments.
What concerns have Conservatives raised over the rising cost of the Chagos deal?
The Tory party has reacted to recent reports claiming that the Chagos Islands deal has exceeded £9 billion, calling the situation “madness.”
In a recent statement, Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, accused Keir Starmer of being influenced by a “leftie shame” about historical actions.
She added,
“It seems Keir Starmer has learnt absolutely nothing – and is still putting his leftie shame of our country’s history over our national security, and our longstanding relationship with our closest ally.”
Mark Francois, a shadow defence minister, has condemned the proposed agreement, citing a report that the UK’s costs have increased to £18bn. Referring to the findings, Mr Francois stated,
“It is utterly unacceptable that Mauritian MPs seem to know more about this deal than our own MPs in parliament.”