Donald Trump could TORPEDO hated Chagos giveaway, admits No10 in fresh blow to Keir Starmer
DONALD Trump could torpedo Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to surrender the Chagos Islands, Downing Street has finally admitted.
The PM had hoped to seal the £9billion agreement with Mauritius before the president-elect returns to the White House next week.
But the formal announcement of a deal will now been delayed, as British officials want the explicit approval of the incoming administration.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman made clear that while Trump cannot formally veto the deal, the UK values Washington’s position and wants the incoming administration onside.
He said: “It’s perfectly reasonable for the US administration to consider the details.”
The President-elect has not commented publicly on the proposed deal, and it did not come up during his phone call with Sir Keir Starmer in late December.
But his pick for Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, blasted the plan last autumn, warning it could boost Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean.
Trump’s incoming national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has also raised the alarm.
In 2022, he warned the talks could put the crucial Diego Garcia naval base at risk.
The Chagos Islands have been at the centre of a long-running dispute, with Mauritius pushing for sovereignty.
The UK had resisted handing over the islands, citing their strategic importance for global defence, including the US military base on Diego Garcia.
But the new Labour Government struck a £9billion deal with Mauritius to hand over the islands and keep control of the crucial Diego Garcia military base for 99 years.
The plan hit trouble, though, when Mauritius’ new leader, Navin Ramgoolam, took office and demanded even more cash for the base, throwing the deal into chaos.
The agreement has also sparked outrage back home, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch blasting today: “There is no way that we should be giving up British territory in Chagos.
“He is rushing a deal which will be disastrous and which will land taxpayers with a multi-billion pound bill.
“Why does the Prime Minister think British people should p[ay to surrender something that is already ours?”
Sir Keir replied: “We inherited a situation where the long term operation of a vital military base was under threat because of legal challenge.
“The negotiations were started under the last government.”