Tue Feb 04 11:40:31 UTC 2025: ## Mauritius Seeks Trump’s Review of Chagos Islands Deal with UK

**Port Louis, Mauritius – February 4, 2025** – Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has called for U.S. President Donald Trump to review a controversial agreement between Britain and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands, home to a key U.S.-British military base. The deal, struck in October 2024, would cede sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while granting Britain a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia base.

However, the deal, yet to be ratified, has faced criticism from multiple sources. Prime Minister Ramgoolam, elected in November 2024, has expressed reservations about the agreement made by his predecessor. Newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also voiced concerns, citing potential threats to U.S. security due to China’s growing regional influence.

Ramgoolam stated that he believes President Trump should examine the agreement’s merits before ratification. He emphasized that he wouldn’t pressure the President for a timeline, expressing confidence that Trump would review the matter in due course.

Britain, meanwhile, awaits the new U.S. administration’s assessment. A recent call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ramgoolam reaffirmed both leaders’ commitment to the agreement, according to a British government statement.

The Chagos Islands’ history is fraught with controversy. Following Mauritius’s independence from Britain in the 1960s, the UK retained control of the islands, forcibly displacing an estimated 2,000 inhabitants to establish the Diego Garcia base. This displacement has led to ongoing protests and criticism from Chagossians who were not involved in the negotiations. They have vowed to continue their opposition to the agreement.

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