Mauritius Seeks £800M Yearly in Chagos Talks

Mauritius is demanding £800 million annually and billions in reparations from the UK as part of ongoing negotiations over the Chagos Islands, specifically regarding the strategic Diego Garcia military base. The new Mauritian Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, has rejected a previous draft deal and asserted that the proposed agreement would not yield expected benefits for his country. British sources have described Mauritius's financial demands as 'crazy,' and the UK government has not disclosed its counter-offer for the 99-year lease. The negotiations are urgent, as the UK aims to finalize an agreement before Donald Trump's anticipated return to the White House, which could complicate future diplomatic relations. Critics express concern that the UK government is rushing into a deal that could undermine national security and international standing. The Foreign Office has distanced itself from claims regarding the exorbitant financial demands made by Mauritius.