Donald Trump approves UK's transfer of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
London, April 2 (Hibya) – According to a statement from the UK Prime Minister’s office, Donald Trump approved the UK’s transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, paving the way for the UK to cede sovereignty over its last African colony after a six-month deadlock.
Under the terms of the agreement, the UK will relinquish control of the Chagos archipelago while continuing to pay for maintaining the joint US-UK military base on the largest island, Diego Garcia, under a 99-year lease.
The agreement was criticized last year by senior Republicans in the US and more recently by some within the UK government, questioning the spending of billions amid fiscal pressures.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said on Tuesday that the deal was finalized after Trump gave the green light. “As I understand it, finalizing the agreement now lies between us and the government of Mauritius following discussions with the US,” he said.
During a visit to the White House in February, Trump told Keir Starmer that he "agreed with his country" on the Chagos deal and had "a feeling it would turn out very well."
The plan to transfer control of the islands was announced in October, before the change of leadership in Mauritius and Trump’s return to the White House.
Albania News Agency
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