Mauritius will reap significant financial benefits from the UK's handover of the Chagos archipelago, including the Diego Garcia military base, which it will lease for potentially up to $110 million a year under a deal being negotiated, Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam told Le Mauricien newspaper.
However, the deal is reportedly in jeopardy due to concerns from US President-elect Trump and his allies about Mauritius's relationship with China, while Diego Garcia is an important US military base in the Indian Ocean, used as a support facility for military aircraft and ships in transit.
"Mauritius is close to India, not China. Donald Trump needs to understand that by supporting the agreement, he secures the American base in Diego Garcia," the newspaper quoted Mauritius prime minister as saying.
After becoming prime minister in November 2024, Ramgoolam called for a review of the Chagos Islands deal negotiated with the UK by the previous government.
Earlier this week, Mauritius Prime Minister Ramgoolam raised concerns about the length of the 99-year lease for a US-UK military base, saying that the lease should be indexed to inflation and exchange rates and recognize Mauritius' sovereignty by limiting the UK's ability to unilaterally renew it.