Keir Starmer’s surrender of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius hangs in the balance – as Labour ministers ‘seek Donald Trump’s approval before deal is signed’

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Britain’s surrender of the Chagos Islands hung in the balance last night, just days before Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Labour had agreed fresh concessions during last-minute talks, in a desperate bid to win round the government in Mauritius.

Ministers had been keen to get the deal rushed through ahead of next week’s inauguration of President-elect Trump, who has been urged to intervene to protect an Anglo-American military base on the archipelago.

But in an extraordinary twist last night, just hours before ministers in the Mauritian capital Port Louis were expected to sign off on a new offer, it was claimed the UK could hold off on finalising the deal to seek Mr Trump’s approval.

He has not commented on the deal, nor has his ally Elon Musk, despite his persistent attacks on the Labour Government.

However, Republican Senator John Kennedy yesterday wrote on social media: ‘Left-wingers in Britain are rushing to give away a strategic US military base in the Indian Ocean before Mr Trump takes office and could stop the deal.’

Keir Starmer could hold off on finalising the Chagos Islands deal to seek Donald Trump’s approval

Labour is feared to have agreed further concessions during last-minute talks in a desperate bid to win round the government in Mauritius (pictured: Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos)

Labour is feared to have agreed further concessions during last-minute talks in a desperate bid to win round the government in Mauritius (pictured: Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos)

Mr Trump has not commented on the deal, nor his ally Elon Musk despite his persistent attacks on the Labour government

Mr Trump has not commented on the deal, nor his ally Elon Musk despite his persistent attacks on the Labour government

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom situated in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia

Confidence is fading among UK Government figures that a deal will be secured before Monday, according to the Financial Times.

It comes after reports that Labour ‘caved in’ to demands during recent negotiations, agreeing to halve the length of a 99-year lease that would allow the military base in the Chagos Islands to remain operational.

Massive upfront payments were also said to have been agreed in a deal that would cost taxpayers as much as £9billion. 

However, Labour was last night warned that this could undermine the UK’s relationship with the incoming US administration, which has raised concerns about the archipelago being handed to an ally of China.

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: ‘The fact [Labour has] been bullied by Mauritius into surrendering sovereignty of the Chagos Islands is the most shameful failure of British diplomacy this century.

‘Billions of pounds of British taxpayers’ money is being thrown away and our national security is being put at risk.’

She added: ‘This will undermine our relationship with the US. Labour have been negotiating in secret, now we know why. It looks like they are going to pay more and give up what limited control they claimed to have.’

Senior opposition politicians including Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman also signed an open letter to Labour ministers accusing them of secrecy and not consulting the Chagossian people. It urged them to ‘stop the rushed deal’.

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