According to AFP, Mauritius's Prime Minister announced that the country had reached a newly renegotiated deal with Britain regarding control of the Chagos Islands. However, he stated that they were awaiting the opinion of US President Donald Trump before proceeding further.

Mauritius's Prime Minister announced on Tuesday that the country had successfully renegotiated a deal with Britain regarding control of the strategic Chagos Islands. However, he stated that they were awaiting the opinion of US President Donald Trump before proceeding further.

Britain and Mauritius had reached an agreement in October to return the Indian Ocean archipelago, which Britain retained after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s. The handover was contingent on the continued presence of a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain.

After assuming office in November, Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam reopened discussions, reportedly seeking increased financial compensation and a renegotiation of the duration of the base’s lease.

During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Ramgoolam stated, “We have reached an agreement ready to be signed with Great Britain concerning Chagos.”

He emphasized that the revised deal addressed the issue of Mauritius’s "unambiguous, undiluted" sovereignty over the entire archipelago, including Diego Garcia. However, he did not disclose further details regarding the terms. He also noted that any extension of the 99-year lease on the military base would be subject to discussions between both parties.

The UK government downplayed suggestions that a finalized agreement had been reached.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that once an agreement was reached, it would be presented before both Houses for scrutiny and ratification through the usual treaty process. The spokesperson also reiterated that Britain would consult President Trump’s administration regarding the deal, as it had faced criticism from some of Trump’s Republican allies.

“Clearly, there is a new US administration in place, and as we have previously said, it is absolutely right that it has the chance to consider the agreement in full,” the spokesperson added.

Ramgoolam confirmed that Mauritius would wait for the US administration’s position on the matter before moving forward.

“The president has just taken office... He has his own priorities. I'm not in a position to impose a timetable on him,” he said in parliament.

The Diego Garcia base was established by Britain after Mauritius’s independence and was leased to the United States. The US has since used the facility as a strategic hub for long-range bombers and naval operations, particularly during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the creation of the base led to the forced eviction of thousands of Chagos islanders, who have since pursued legal claims for compensation in British courts.

Under the previously proposed agreement, Britain would retain the military base for 99 years in exchange for an annual payment of £90 million ($110 million), according to British media reports.

Ramgoolam warned that if Washington refused to support the deal, Mauritius would continue its legal and diplomatic fight for full sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.