Trump nonetheless contemplating Chagos Islands deal veto as Starmer tries to shut settlement | EUROtoday

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Donald Trump should still veto Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial plans at hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, regardless of the PM’s plans to push forward with the deal.

With reviews that the UK and Mauritius have come to phrases on a brand new settlement on the Indian Ocean archipelago, a White House spokesperson advised The Independent that President Trump has not given it his blessing.

There are severe considerations concerning the high secret joint US/UK airbase on Diego Garcia and the potential for Chinese interference if the UK provides up sovereignty on the islands.

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And whereas the Biden administration had been blissful to help the previous deal struck final yr at hand over the islands, Trump has been taking recommendation from Brexiteers and right-wingers within the UK to veto the settlement.

Reports that Sir Keir’s authorities has squared off a brand new settlement with Mauritius with Mr Trump have been denied by the White House.

A White House official stated: “The Trump administration continues to review the British government’s agreement with Mauritius and potential implications for Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia.”

It is known that new secretary of state Marco Rubio and the UK international secretary David Lammy are resulting from meet concerning the challenge at a convention in Munich subsequent week. In their first dialog, Mr Rubio made it clear that he was involved about Chinese interference on the islands. The topic might additionally come up when Sir Keir meets Mr Trump within the coming weeks.

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The knockback comes amid reviews that the deal is far worse than the one initially agreed final yr.

Since the unique settlement, there was a change of presidency in Mauritius and the brand new prime minister Navin Ramgoolam stated that what was on the desk was “not good enough”.

Now, beneath the brand new phrases, the UK might find yourself paying £18bn as a substitute of the unique £9bn to lease again Diego Garcia for 99 years. Unlike the unique deal, there wouldn’t be an automated extension mechanism after 99 years.

Also, it was claimed that regardless of quite a few guarantees to publish the price of the deal by ministers within the Commons, they might not be going forward with that pledge.

The reviews adopted a solution within the Mauritian parliament by Mr Ramgoolam the place he acknowledged that an settlement could be signed between the UK and Mauritius concerning Chagos.

However, he added that the British are nonetheless ready for the approval of the Trump administration.

In the UK, the prime minister’s official spokesperson advised journalists particulars of the treaty could be set out earlier than parliament “in the usual way” when the deal was finalised – however repeatedly refused to make clear whether or not these particulars would come with the prices.

They had been unable to say whether or not Sir Keir is assured Mr Trump will settle for the deal, including: “We are in a new US administration, as I say, it’s only right that they have the opportunity to consider it fully, and we are giving them the opportunity to do so.”

The prospect of a deal with out the small print being revealed was attacked by the Tories.

Shadow armed forces minister Mark Francois stated: “It is utterly unacceptable that Mauritian MPs seem to know more about this deal than our own MPs in parliament. With the defence budget already under immense strain, the government not only can’t say how much we’d be paying to rent back our own islands, they don’t even know which department would foot the bill. If the reported £18bn figure is true, this is financial and strategic madness.”

Shadow international secretary Dame Priti Patel added: “It seems Keir Starmer has learnt absolutely nothing – and is still putting his leftie shame of our country’s history over our national security, and our longstanding relationship with our closest ally.

“He has the audacity to tell the British people they will foot the bill and pay for the indignity of his surrender of the Chagos Islands, as he isolates the new US administration by bending the knee to Mauritius and emboldening our enemies with his disastrous surrender deal.

“Starmer and David Lammy must urgently explain their epic failure of diplomacy which is putting our special relationship at risk while they play pathetic gesture politics.”