UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has urged Mauritius to ensure "strong protections" for the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia as negotiations over the Chagos Islands continue.
In a phone call on Friday, Starmer spoke directly with his Mauritian counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam, marking the first direct conversation between the two leaders since they assumed office.
Ensuring the future of the military base
Downing Street confirmed that Starmer emphasized the need for a deal that safeguards the base from external threats and ensures its continued operation.
“The prime minister spoke to the prime minister of Mauritius this afternoon,” a Downing Street spokesperson said. “The leaders discussed the strong relationship between the UK and Mauritius and looked forward to strengthening ties. The prime minister underlined the importance of securing a military base agreement that provides strong protections, including from malign influence.”
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reaching an agreement and expressed their intention to continue discussions.
Mauritius' independent review and ongoing negotiations
The call comes after Prime Minister Ramgoolam initiated an independent review of the provisional agreement his predecessor reached with the UK.
Since 2022, the UK has been negotiating with Mauritius to transfer control of the Chagos Islands while seeking to maintain strategic oversight of Diego Garcia, a crucial military hub. Under the proposed deal, Britain would lease back the base for 99 years at an estimated annual cost of £90 million.
With talks continuing under the new Labour government, securing a stable agreement remains a key priority for both nations.