The Deputy Prime Minister of Mauritius has indicated that discussions with Britain about the future of the Chagos Islands are taking place over the money involved.
Under the terms of the original agreement, which was announced in October, Britain would relinquish sovereignty to Mauritius over the peninsula but retain a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia, home to a UK-US military airbase. .
But a new government in Mauritius, elected since the deal was agreed, has said it wants to see some changes.
The proposed deal has also been criticized in the UK, with the opposition Conservative Party calling it a “monumental failure of state-building”.
When the agreement was first unveiled after years of negotiations, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and then-Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jagannath hailed it as “an important moment in our relationship and for the peaceful resolution of disputes.” A manifestation of our enduring commitment to the rule of law.”
It sought to end decades of uncertainty and conflict over the status of the islands.
In a joint statement issued on Friday, the UK and Mauritius said they were “committed to finalizing an agreement as soon as possible” covering “the safe and effective operation of the existing base on Diego Garcia and that on the island of Mauritius is independent.”
He added that “ongoing discussions” were fruitful.
The new Mauritian government, elected in a landslide last month, has not made it clear to the public what it will do with the deal. What were the problems?
But speaking to his constituents on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Paul Barringer spoke about the money involved.
As part of the October deal, Britain said it would provide Mauritius with a financial aid package, including annual payments and infrastructure investment.
“This base was on our land, on our land… but not only that. [about] Our sovereignty. If you are a true patriot, there are some things you cannot accept. They’re trying to sign us and they’re squabbling over a little bit of money,” Berenger said.
Speaking about the talks in parliament last week, Berenger admitted that Mauritius “needs money to get out of the economic mess that the previous government put us in, but not at any cost, not under any circumstances”. .
Addressing MPs on Friday, Prime Minister Naveen Ramgolam said the UK was keen to complete the deal “early”. [Donald] Trump will be sworn in as president on January 20.
Marco Rubio, Trump’s secretary of state pick, has called the deal a threat to American security.
In the UK House of Commons last week, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel accused the Labor government of endangering UK national security, ignoring the interests of the Chagossians, and in an increasingly dangerous world. “Letting our position go into freefall.”
“How much will the British taxpayer be liable for each year, and in total, for 99 years?” he asked.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty insisted the deal would not undermine UK security, saying it would protect the operation of the military base and ensure it is “safe for the next century”. on the grounds”.
In recent years, Britain has faced increasing diplomatic isolation over its claim to what it refers to as the British Indian Ocean region, with various UN bodies – including its High Court and General Assembly – of Mauritius. Demanding support and surrender from Britain. Some have called it “Africa’s last colony”.
The Mauritian government has long argued that it was illegally forced to cede the Chagos Islands in exchange for its independence from Britain in 1968.
Until recently, Britain insisted that Mauritius itself had no legitimate claim to the islands.