The UK is holding off finalizing a Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius until it secures the approval of US President-elect Donald Trump. Negotiations focus on a 99-year lease of Diego Garcia, a strategic US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean. While British officials had hoped to conclude the agreement before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, the British government has now decided to seek his approval before sealing the deal. Trump’s advisors had earlier raised concerns about the deal, arguing it could bolster Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, the Mauritian government is set to discuss the proposals. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam, who was recently reelected, had taken issue with the previous deal agreed with his predecessor, prompting a renegotiation. Despite US backing under the Biden administration, the deal’s future hinges on Trump’s approval, reflecting the geopolitical significance of Diego Garcia.
Source: Financial Times