The Prime Minister of Maurice Navin Ramgoolam said Tuesday that he had reached a new agreement “Ready to be signed” With the United Kingdom on the control of the Chagos Islands, a strategic archipelago of the Indian Ocean, but wait for the advice of the Trump administration on this revised text.
London, who kept control of the Chagos after Mauritius’ independence in the 1960s, remained more careful on the subject. “Once an agreement is found”he will be subject to the vote of the British Parliament and Washington will be consulted, it was told to Downing Street.
Last October, Great Britain had concluded with Mauritius an agreement providing to restore the Chagos to it provided that a American-British military base was maintained there on the largest island, Diego Garcia.
Coming to power in November, Mr. Ramgoolam questioned the agreement, which had not yet been ratified, and reopened the discussions to obtain better conditions.
In mid-January, in full negotiations, the United Kingdom said that it would consult the administration of US President Donald Trump before finalizing the agreement, described as “Serious threat” For the security of the United States by Marco Rubio before taking office as Secretary of State.
“We have reached a ready to be signed with Great Britain concerning Chagos”said Ramgoolam on Tuesday before parliament in response to an opposition arrest.
He said he was won over the question of Mauritius’ sovereignty over the entire archipelago, including Diego Garcia, “The biggest problem” In negotiations, according to him.
“It was necessary that it was unambiguous, without dilution, that we have full sovereignty (…) It was not in the previous agreement, but was taken into account in the new agreement concluded with Great Britain »»he said, without further details.
London did not confirm that an agreement had been concluded. “Once an agreement is reached, the details of the treaty will be subject to the examination of the two chambers (from the British Parliament) for a ratification according to the usual procedure”During the day, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the press.
He repeated that Great Britain would consult the new Trump administration to give it the possibility “To examine the entire agreement”. He also reiterated London’s determination to obtain guarantees of solid protection from the American-British base against the “Malventy influences”.
“A few tarzans and Fridays”
Ramgoolam also reiterated his intention to wait for the advice of the Trump administration. “As we have always said and repeated, on several occasions, President Trump is not a wolf. Let it see if the agreement is good or bad “he said.
“The president has just taken office (…) he has his own priorities. I am unable to impose a calendar to it ”he added.
Mr. Ramgoolam indicated that a possible extension of the 99 -year -old lease from the military base would be “Discussed by both parties” and not unilaterally by the United Kingdom.
At the end of December, he also indicated to seek better financial compensation than that provided for in the October agreement, where the United Kingdom retained a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, for the payment of 90 million pounds sterling per year ( 107 million euros), according to British media.
According to the Mauritian Prime Minister, this compensation should “Take into account the inflation rate during” 99 years of the lease.

Residents of the island of Diego Garcia Island in the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean, were moved to Mauritius on April 9, 1971 / Handout / Chagos Refugee Group / AFP
In 1965, London bought the Chagos for three million pounds from the semi-autonomous institutions of Mauritius. The archipelago will remain under British control after the independence of Mauritius three years later.
In 1966, the United Kingdom signed a 50-year-old lease with the United States authorizing them to use Diego Garcia for military purposes.
Between 1968 and 1973, 2,000 Chagossians, described in a British cable of the time as “A few tarzans and Fridays”are gradually expelled.
The military base played a strategic role as a hub for bombers and long -range ships, especially used during wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
(tagstotranslate) Government