When Trump reviews the sovereignty agreement concerning the vital British-U.S. military base on the Chagos Islands Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has expressed his approval. A 99-year lease agreement between Britain and Mauritius under the October 2024 agreement allows Britain to govern Diego Garcia military operations while Mauritius receives sovereignty control of the Chagos Archipelago. The agreement remains unapproved by international law at this present time. The agreement fails to achieve ratification because Mauritius’s Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam expresses doubts about its terms at the same time U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expresses security concerns because of China’s rising power in the Indian Ocean region.
According to Ramgoolam who assumed office in November 2024, there existed a need for Mr. Trump to review the agreement because it would be “better that Mr. Trump has a look at the agreement” on February 4, 2025. Trump will not cause harm when he reviews the agreement according to Ramgoolam. He should examine the value of the agreement to see if it has merit or not.
The United Kingdom has postponed ratification of the agreement because the incoming U.S. government needs to conduct a new review. Prime Minister Keir Starmer along with Ramgoolam recently held discussions about the matter while reconfirming their dedication to the agreement. The Chagossians oppose the agreement since British forces led them from their homes in the 1960s to construct Diego Garcia base. Chagossians protest because they feel neglected during the negotiations and want to oppose the agreement.
The future of the Chagos Islands remains uncertain because international forces vigilantly follow developments as worldwide tensions grow stronger.
