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Nigel Farage urges Donald Trump to intervene in Britain’s deal to transfer Chagos Islands to China-friendly Mauritius

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Nigel Farage urges Donald Trump to intervene in Britain’s deal to transfer Chagos Islands to China-friendly Mauritius

By MARTIN BECKFORD, POLICY EDITOR FOR THE DAILY POST

Published: | Updated:

Keir Starmer could face his first foreign policy clash with Donald Trump over Britain’s controversial surrender of the Chagos Islands.

The Prime Minister will face new pressure to cancel the proposed transfer of the British Overseas Territory to Mauritius – an ally of China – if the new President concludes it risks the crucial Anglo-American military base there.

A Cabinet minister yesterday stressed that the Mauritius deal has been completed, while the government believes the Pentagon supports it.

But Nigel Farage is lobbying his political ally Trump to intervene and force Britain to think again.

The leader of Reform UK told the Mail: ‘I have spoken to people very close to him about the situation in Chagos and the concern that the Mauritian government is moving further to the left.’

He said there is a danger that the deal struck by Labor in October – which hands control of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius but allows the US and Britain to maintain the military base on the largest atoll, Diego Garcia to continue operating for at least another 99 years – could unravel. as Chinese influence in Mauritius grows.

Nigel Farage urges Donald Trump to intervene in Britain’s deal to transfer Chagos Islands to China-friendly Mauritius

Nigel Farage (pictured) lobbies his political ally Trump to intervene to force Britain to think again

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Mar-a-Lago Club on April 4, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Mar-a-Lago Club on April 4, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida

Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, leased from Britain

Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and site of a major United States military base in the middle of the Indian Ocean, leased from Britain

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, located in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) or Chagos Islands (formerly the Oil Islands) is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, located in the Indian Ocean, halfway between Africa and Indonesia

The Prime Minister will come under new pressure to cancel the proposed transfer of the British Overseas Territory to Mauritius (Photo: Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago)

The Prime Minister will come under new pressure to cancel the proposed transfer of the British Overseas Territory to Mauritius (Photo: Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago)

“Lease agreements sound great, but look what happened to Hong Kong,” Mr Farage said.

“And under this agreement, what’s stopping the Chinese from using any of the other islands? Given Diego Garcia’s importance in the Gulf War, it is a very important military asset.

‘We obviously have to see who he appoints as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense. But I think it’s very unlikely that this won’t become a problem. I don’t see what we gain from the transfer – reconsidering it should be a possibility. It is very possible that this situation will change.’

He added that Trump’s people are “aware” of legal advice prepared by pro-Brexit lawyer Martin Howe KC, which stated that Britain was under no obligation to cede sovereignty of the islands , despite a 2019 ruling by the International Court of Justice that the British government’s occupation was unlawful.

A former Foreign Office source told the Mail: ‘I would be very surprised if Trump didn’t at least try to kill the deal.’

Allies of the new president last month rejected the decision to transfer the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, which is 2,100 kilometers from the archipelago.

Allies of the new president last month rejected the decision to transfer the British Indian Ocean Territory to Mauritius, which is 2,100 kilometers from the archipelago.

The insider said it would be an ‘extraordinary turnaround’ if Labor were to abandon the deal, adding: ‘If Trump really wants it to happen, ultimately they have ways of blaming the government. Look what they did to Huawei.”

While Trump has not publicly commented on the Chagos deal, other senior Republicans have, including a leading candidate to become his secretary of state.

Senator Marco Rubio last month described the transfer as “concerning.” Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden, when asked by Sky News whether the deal was “100 per cent done and dusted”, replied: “Yes, I believe so,” adding that it is “important in that deal that we use from the base there for a long time’.

A government spokesperson said: ‘This agreement protects the long-term secure operation of the British-American base, which plays a vital role in regional and international security.

“The UK and the US have built a special relationship over many decades and we look forward to continuing this with the new US administration, working together on our shared priorities including growth, security and defence.”