Starmer’s Chagos Islands deal is in turmoil after Mauritius reopens talks

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Britain will refuse to hand over more money to Mauritius in its disputed deal over the future of the Chagos Islands, British officials have warned, as the issue spirals into a major row in Westminster.

The new Prime Minister of Mauritius has reopened talks on the future of the islands, leading to a major pushback The agreement concluded with the United Kingdom by his predecessor into turmoil and created a major political headache for British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Kimmy BadenochThe Conservative leader accused Starmer of “kneeling” in international negotiations and said he was “giving things away for free”, denouncing the original agreement reached with the previous Mauritius government.

This agreement included a financial settlement offered by Britain to Mauritius, and British officials insist on not renegotiating it. “There is no more money – we are clear about that,” one said.

Britain sought to secure an important American military base on Diego Garcia Atoll by ceding sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in the draft agreement.

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Reform Party, claimed that the incoming administration of US President-elect Donald Trump was “appalled” by the deal.

Now Mauritius’ new Prime Minister Naveen Ramgoolam has said the proposed agreement, which has not been ratified by treaty, “will not produce the benefits the nation can expect” and that negotiations have resumed.

Starmer’s spokesman said the UK government was cooperating with the new Mauritius administration, adding: “We remain confident that the agreement is in the mutual interest of both sides.”

Another British official said: “It’s a good deal.” “The next government is expected to look into the matter.”

The official insisted that institutions in Washington – including the State Department, the Pentagon and the White House – all supported the deal, and said Trump would realize it made sense.

The UK did not say how much it would pay Mauritius under the agreement with the former government of Pravind Jugnauth in October, but said there would be a “restricted annual payment for the duration of the agreement”, a “partnership” for infrastructure investment, and a trust fund. Fund for the Chagossians.

Ramgoolam did not specify what Mauritius wanted to renegotiate. People familiar with the government’s thinking told the Financial Times last month that was the case Concerns about the length of 99 years Of the lease that the United Kingdom will receive on the Diego Garcia base after its handover to Mauritius.

Ramgoolam’s push to renegotiate the Chagos deal is part of his blanket rejection of the signature policies pursued by Jugnauth, his longtime personal rival, since the November election. The two men represent political dynasties that have feuded since Mauritius’s independence in 1968.

This month, Ramgoolam, who is serving as prime minister for the third time and also serves as finance minister, accused Jugnauth’s previous government of falsifying GDP and debt figures for years in what is usually seen as one of Africa’s richest economies.

Badenoch is pressing the issue ahead of the Christmas recess at Westminster, claiming Starmer’s deal with Mauritius was part of a pattern of behavior that also saw him capitulate to a train drivers’ strike and seek settlement with the EU.

“Labour will always be on its knees,” she said, claiming that Starmer would make concessions to Brussels in 2025 to secure a better trading relationship, including accepting the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in some areas.

“They are taken on a trip and given things for free in the hope that the other party will be nice to them in return,” she said on X. They put our national security at risk and agreed to give up the Chagos Islands and pay the price for it.” “He-she.”