Reported by Elizabeth Piper, WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump expressed his inclination on Thursday to support a proposed agreement between Britain and Mauritius concerning the fate of a U.S.-UK military installation in the Chagos Islands, providing a significant boost for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump indicated his approval of the agreement during an in-person meeting with Starmer at the White House, marking their first face-to-face discussions since the Republican leader altered U.S. policy across various domains, ranging from Ukraine to global trade.
The agreement, negotiated in October, entails the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from Britain to Mauritius while allowing the UK to retain operational control of the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago located in the Indian Ocean, through a 99-year lease. Although the deal, pending finalization through a formal treaty, had garnered support from former U.S. President Joe Biden, it had encountered uncertainty following Trump’s re-election. Britain had announced its intention to provide the Trump administration with an opportunity to review the agreement before reaching a definitive conclusion.
Seated beside Starmer in the Oval Office, Trump informed reporters that discussions regarding the agreement would take place during their meeting that day and expressed his likelihood to endorse it. In response to a question concerning the deal, Trump remarked, “We’re going to have some discussions about that very soon, and I have a feeling it’s going to work out very well,” highlighting the extensive lease terms associated with Diego Garcia. “I think we’ll be inclined to go along with your country,” he conveyed to Starmer. “It’s a little early, we have to be given the details, but it doesn’t sound bad.”
Trump’s comments are expected to be well-received by Starmer, who has been under domestic political pressure regarding the agreement’s financial implications and the relinquishment of British sovereignty over the islands. Recent weeks had witnessed further uncertainty surrounding the deal, with Mauritius’ new prime minister expressing reservations about its specifics and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio raising concerns about China’s influence in the region.
When Mauritius gained independence from Britain in the 1960s, London retained authority over the Chagos Islands and forcibly displaced around 2,000 individuals to pave the way for the establishment of the Diego Garcia base. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Writing by Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Leslie Adler)
