Mauritius hints talks stuck over money
Mauritius’ deputy prime minister has hinted that talks with the UK over the future of the Chagos Islands are on hold due to the amount of money involved.
Under the terms of the original deal, announced in October, Britain would relinquish sovereignty over the archipelago but retain a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, home to a major British and American military air base.
As part of the deal, the UK said it would provide Mauritius with a package of financial support, including annual payments and infrastructure investment, but neither side disclosed the exact amount.
However, the new Mauritian government elected since the agreement was first signed says it wants to see some changes.
The proposed deal has also drawn criticism in the UK, with the opposition Conservatives calling it a “colossal failure of statecraft”.
When the deal was first made public after years of negotiations, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth called it “a seminal moment in our relationship that demonstrates our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution and settlement of disputes.” Rule of law”.
It seeks to end decades of uncertainty and controversy surrounding the island’s status.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, Britain and Mauritius said they were committed to “finalizing a treaty as soon as possible” that would include “the safe and effective operation of the existing base at Diego Garcia, and Mauritius’ sovereignty over the archipelago.” .
They added that “ongoing dialogue” was productive.
Mauritius’s new government, which was elected in a landslide last month, has yet to publicly identify problems with the deal.
But Deputy Prime Minister Paul Berenger spoke to voters on Sunday about the money involved.
“This base exists on our soil, on our territory… but it’s not just about our sovereignty. If you are a true patriot, there are things you cannot accept. They are trying to get us to sign and agree to them Arguing over a small number of issues,” he said.
Speaking in parliament last week on the negotiations, Belanger acknowledged that Mauritius needs “funds to get out of the economic mess that the previous government put us in, but not at any cost and not under any conditions”.
Speaking to MPs on Friday, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said Britain was keen to complete the deal “before (Donald) Trump is sworn in as president on January 20”.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, called the deal a threat to U.S. security.
In the House of Commons last week, shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel accused the Labor government of putting the UK’s national security at risk, ignoring the interests of the Chagossians and “leaving us in danger” in an increasingly dangerous world. status plummeted.”
“What is the total annual liability for UK taxpayers over 99 years?” she asked.
British Foreign Secretary Stephen Doughty insisted the deal would enhance rather than undermine Britain’s security, saying it would protect the operations of military bases and ensure they “remain secure into the next century”.
Britain has faced growing diplomatic isolation in recent years over its claims to the so-called British Indian Ocean territory, with United Nations bodies – including its Supreme Court and General Assembly – overwhelmingly siding with Mauritius in calling for Britain to hand over alleged It is “Africa’s last colony”.
The Mauritian government has long argued that it was illegally forced to give up the Chagos Islands in exchange for independence from Britain in 1968.
Until recently, Britain insisted that Mauritius itself had no legitimate claim to the islands.
