All articles tagged with #mauritius
Trump attacked Keir Starmer over the 99-year Diego Garcia/Chagos lease with Mauritius, warning the deal could compromise sovereignty and suggesting the United States might deploy the base to deter Iran; Washington had signaled backing, while the UK defends the agreement as securing long‑term security and decolonisation, with the cost to Britain around £3.4 billion.
Donald Trump condemned Keir Starmer’s plan to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while renewing a 99-year UK-US lease on Diego Garcia, arguing the base could be needed to counter Iran; the sovereignty dispute stems from decades of displacement of Chagossians and international rulings, with the UK insisting the arrangement is essential for security.
A BBC feature examines the Chagos Archipelago—renowned for its pristine reefs—as a flashpoint in a sovereignty dispute among the UK, the US and Mauritius. The contention traces to Mauritius’s independence and the 1960s removal of Chagossians to clear land for the Diego Garcia military base, with a 2025 plan to transfer archipelago control to Mauritius while the US keeps base access; ongoing negotiations, displaced communities, and environmental and access concerns shape its uncertain future.
Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that the United States could militarily secure the Diego Garcia base if a future deal or access is threatened, following what he called productive discussions with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He stressed the strategic importance of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for U.S. national security. The base—leased from the U.K. with sovereignty disputed by Mauritius—hosts about 2,500 personnel and has long been used for U.S. operations. Britain has agreed to compensate Mauritius and allow a possible lease extension, with Downing Street saying the leaders will continue to work to guarantee the base’s future operation. The piece notes the broader U.S.-U.K. security relationship and historical tensions over the sovereignty arrangement.
Trump tempered earlier criticism by endorsing the UK-Mauritius Chagos sovereignty deal after talks with Keir Starmer, while stating the US would retain the right to militarily secure Diego Garcia. The agreement transfers full sovereignty to Mauritius for 99 years and guarantees continued US base operations, amid decades of displacement of the Chagossians.
The US backs the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the Diego Garcia base for 99 years, with Downing Street and White House confirming continued cooperation on implementation. Trump endorsed Prime Minister Starmer’s agreement as the best possible deal, but said he reserves the right to reinforce US operations if needed; the White House reiterated the US will protect its assets. A draft ratification bill is advancing amid security concerns and criticism from Conservatives and Reform UK about national security and Mauritius’s ties to China.
Keir Starmer defended the deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands (including Diego Garcia) to Mauritius, noting earlier statements of support from U.S. officials Rubio and Hegseth; renewed talks with Washington are underway, the base remains under UK/U.S. control for 99 years, Mauritius will receive payments, and Trump criticized the deal afterward, prompting mixed reactions from opponents.
Keir Starmer says U.S. intelligence agencies reviewed and backed the 2024 Chagos–Mauritius handover after an agency-level review, contradicting Donald Trump’s public opposition; Downing Street maintains the deal is done and won’t be derailed by Washington. The agreement includes a 99-year Diego Garcia lease and about £3.4bn in official costs, with U.S. security concerns and potential implications for ICJ considerations cited as talks continue, even as the Lords debate is delayed.
The UK postponed the Lords’ debate on a treaty to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and lease back the US-UK Diego Garcia base, with ministers accusing Conservative peers of parliamentary stunts intended to sabotage the legislation. The bill requires updating the 1966 UK-US agreement and faces a ping-pong between Houses; Trump criticized the deal, and opposition calls for pause pending US clarification. The arrangement would cede sovereignty to Mauritius while paying roughly £101 million a year for 99 years (about £3.4 billion in real terms).
The Lords debate on the UK–Mauritius Chagos deal was postponed after Conservative MPs tabled an amendment calling for a pause, delaying legislation that would grant Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands while letting the UK–US operate Diego Garcia on a 99-year lease for about £101 million annually. The government says the deal is essential for national security, but Tory critics warn it could breach the 1966 treaty and urge securing US agreement before proceeding.
President Donald Trump condemned Britain's plan to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius as 'great stupidity,' arguing the move signals weakness to Russia and China and ties into his push on Greenland; the Diego Garcia base would remain jointly controlled by the UK and U.S. for 99 years, with Mauritius set to receive payments; Downing Street insists the deal is unchanged and enjoys U.S. support, but Trump’s comments add strain to the UK-U.S. relationship as Prime Minister Starmer navigates the alliance, with mixed reactions from allies such as Nigel Farage.
Pope Leo XIV expressed support for the Chagos Refugees Group, praising their resilience and the recent treaty that facilitates their return to the Chagos Archipelago, emphasizing that no one should be forced into exile and urging international and local authorities to ensure their safe and dignified return.
Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has conceded defeat in the parliamentary elections, acknowledging that his coalition, L'Alliance Lepep, lost to the Alliance of Change led by Navin Ramgoolam. The election, marked by a phone-tapping scandal and a temporary social media ban, saw high voter turnout with public dissatisfaction over governance and the cost-of-living crisis influencing the outcome. Ramgoolam, poised to become the next leader, has promised reforms including increased pensions and reduced fuel costs. The election follows a historic agreement with the UK over the Chagos Islands.
The Norwegian Dawn cruise ship was initially denied entry to the main port of Mauritius due to concerns about a potential cholera outbreak, but sample testing showed no traces of the disease. Passengers with mild stomach-related symptoms were quarantined, and pending test results prevented about 2,000 passengers from disembarking. The company is providing assistance with flight arrangements, hotel accommodations, and future cruise credits for affected passengers. The ship has been cleared for entry, and new guests will board after a two-day delay, with screening by health officials upon disembarkation.
A Norwegian Cruise Line ship was barred from docking in Mauritius after more than 15 passengers fell ill with a stomach-related illness. The ship, Norwegian Dawn, has over 2,100 passengers and 1,000 crew on board. The cause of the outbreak has not been disclosed, and the ship is expected to be allowed to dock on Tuesday after further testing. Gastrointestinal illnesses are common on cruise ships due to close living quarters and the regular addition of new passengers.