Starmer running out of time to land Chagos Islands deal before Trump takes power
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The UK and Mauritius governments issue a joint statement admitting that they still have not agreed a deal for the handover of the Chagos Islands with an incoming Trump administration set to try to block an agreement. Keir Starmer’s attempts to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius with a highly controversial deal appear to be on a knife edge after the two governments issued a joint statement admitting they have not yet reached an agreement.
While Labour’s attempts to end British colonial rule on the Indian Ocean islands has the backing of the Biden administration, the incoming Trump administration is opposed to a deal and is seeking ways to veto it. And with just a week to go before Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the USA time appears to be running out for Sir Keir before he has to deal with a new White House on the thorny issue.
To add to the complications the recently elected government in Mauritius rejected a deal agreed with foreign secretary David Lammy with their predecessor government. This has meant a new round of talks but the UK’s promise to frontload payments for the continued lease of the crucial Diego Garcia military airbase have not yet produced a breakthrough.
In a joint statement on Monday, the UK and Mauritius governments said: “Representatives from Mauritius and the UK held further productive discussions in London this week on the future of the Chagos Archipelago. “Good progress has been made and discussions are ongoing to reach an agreement that is in both sides’ interests.
