UK and Mauritius Near £9 Billion Chagos Deal, Aiming for Diego Garcia 50-Year Lease Before Trump's Inauguration

Jan 14, 2025, 05:15 PM

The UK and Mauritius have made significant progress in negotiations over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, with both nations expressing optimism about reaching an agreement. The discussions aim to finalize a deal that would see Mauritius gain sovereignty over the archipelago, while the UK would retain control of the US-British military base on Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease, with Mauritius seeking a 50-year lease instead. The urgency to conclude the agreement stems from the impending inauguration of Donald Trump, with reports suggesting that the UK is keen to secure the deal before his return to the White House. Mauritius has hinted at securing more concessions from the UK, including a potential front-loading of payments amounting to £9 billion, with an annual payment of £90 million for the use of Diego Garcia. A special cabinet meeting in Mauritius is scheduled to discuss the latest proposals, indicating a push to finalize the agreement before January 20.