Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has expressed concerns over the 99-year lease on the US-British military base on Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands.
The UK plans to cede control of the islands to Mauritius, but Ramgoolam criticized the deal, calling it a “sell out”.
Ramgoolam’s concerns center around the lease duration, which he believes should be indexed to inflation and take exchange rates into account.
He also emphasized the need for the agreement to fully recognize Mauritius’ ownership of the islands, potentially affecting the UK’s unilateral right to renew the lease.
The prime minister stressed that the issue is not just about money, but also about Mauritius’ sovereignty.
He noted that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had pushed for the agreement to be concluded before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
However, the deal has faced criticism from various quarters.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s pick for secretary of state, has expressed concerns that the agreement poses a threat to US security, as Mauritius is allegedly allied with China.
Some Chagossians have also spoken out against the negotiations, stating that they were not involved in the process and will protest against the agreement.
