David Lammy plays down criticism of Chagos Islands deal
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy has played down criticism of Mauritius’s new prime minister and the incoming Trump administration over a deal to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Under the deal, which is still to be signed, Britain will relinquish sovereignty over the archipelago but retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, home to a major British and American military air base.
Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam, elected two weeks agoexpressed serious doubts about the agreement.
Nigel Farage, leader of the UK’s Reform Party and a Trump ally, told BBC Newsnight it would damage Sir Keir Starmer’s relationship with the US president-elect.
The deal remains subject to treaty finalization.
Lamy told the House of Commons foreign affairs committee it was a “good deal” that addressed US concerns about the future of the Diego Garcia military base.
“I’m very, very confident, from a cross-party perspective, that Mauritians will see this as a good deal for them,” Lamy said.
Ramgoolam expressed doubts about the deal after meeting with British national security adviser Jonathan Powell on Monday.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, said in October that the deal posed a “serious threat” to U.S. national security by handing the islands over to countries allied with China.
“It’s unbelievable. I know, and I’m sad, that there’s so much politics in this,” Lamy said.
He said the agreement was a “very good agreement” for “our national security” because it ensured the legal basis for the Diego Garcia military base.
Lamy added: “I feel very reassured by this and I think the incoming (US) administration will also feel reassured by it and I believe Mauritians remain convinced of it, even though we all know that the politics are still going on.” .
talking bbc newsnightFarage said the incoming Trump administration was “shocked” at the prospect of an agreement reached by the British government “because they know China has extraordinary naval ambitions.”
He added that if the treaty were signed, it would be “a terrible mistake that would seriously damage not just our relationship with Donald Trump, but our relationship with the United States as a whole and undermine any tariff deal.” becomes more difficult.”
Newsnight political editor Nicholas Watt said he had spoken to a government minister at the heart of the deal who dismissed suggestions there were doubts about the deal.
“The deal is good and we abide by international law,” the minister told him.
Discussing the deal in the context of current global tensions, Times columnist Matthew Saied told Newsnight: “I think we may be approaching a major war between the great powers.
“We have proxy wars in Europe and the Middle East, and China may impose a blockade on Taiwan. Military leaders say this is an absolutely important part of the world’s strategy, and China is leading a growing coalition that includes Iran, Russia and Cohesive Axis.” North Korea. “
He believes that Europe has been “free riding” on U.S. defense spending. “We have to be realistic that it is absolutely critical that we stand with the United States in a situation like this, where our defense capabilities are reduced.”
Details of the treaty’s legal text are being worked out and are expected to be submitted to parliament for review next year.
