Mauritius faces a new challenge after US President Donald Trump's sudden reversal on the treaty transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago's 60-plus islands from the UK to Mauritius.
Calling the agreement 'an act of great stupidity' on his Truth Social platform last month, Trump appeared to execute a sharp U-turn, having previously endorsed the early 2025 deal alongside secretary of state Marco Rubio, who is yet to comment on Trump's recent remarks.
That agreement secured for the UK an initial 99-year lease for the strategically important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The BBC reports that the UK will pay 165m 224m in each of the first three years. From years four to 13, it will pay 120m 160m a year. After that, payments will be linked to inflation.
