Chagossian representatives have launched a final, direct appeal to former US President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and block the Labour government's controversial plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius in a deal worth around £30 billion.
A Plea to Prevent a 'Very Bad Deal'
In a letter due to be delivered to the White House, the islanders' First Minister, Misley Mandarin, warns that the proposed treaty represents a 'very bad deal' that would 'put at risk' the strategically crucial UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. Mr Mandarin, who leads the Chagossian government-in-exile, contends that the agreement, brokered by Sir Keir Starmer's National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell, could inadvertently grant China 'leverage' over the base, a key asset in the Indian Ocean.
The core concern raised is that under the deal, Mauritius 'would hold sovereignty over every inch of the US base'. Ministers defending the plan argue it is necessary to resolve a long-running sovereignty dispute and secure the base's future, having negotiated a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia alongside the substantial financial package for Mauritius.
Strategic Risks and a Naming Offer
The appeal to Mr Trump comes ahead of a critical vote in Parliament on Monday on the legislation required to enact the treaty. The government has already suffered four defeats in the House of Lords this week but is expected to push again to pass the law.
In his letter, Mr Mandarin suggests that a grateful Chagossian community might be prepared to name one of the archipelago's 60 islands after President Trump to 'mark the moment America chose strength, fairness and long-term security over a short-term fix'. He asserts that pausing the deal would allow for a 'just and secure solution', potentially including the right for exiled Chagossians to return home—a prospect the current treaty would end.
Closing the Door on Chinese Interference
While the White House has previously indicated it is content for the deal to proceed, critics, including Mr Mandarin, believe President Trump has not been fully briefed on the potential risks to US operations. The Chagossian leader argues that blocking the agreement would 'shut the door on Chinese interference' and 'provide permanent legal certainty for US operations' on Diego Garcia.
Directly addressing the former president, Mr Mandarin writes: 'President Trump, you have always been clear… you don’t accept deals that tie America’s hands. And you don’t accept arrangements that look fine on paper but collapse under pressure.' He concludes with a call to action: 'I am therefore asking you, Mr President, to do what you do best - call out a bad deal and stop it.'
The outcome of Monday's parliamentary vote, and any potential reaction from across the Atlantic, will now decisively shape the future of the islands, their exiled population, and a military base of global significance.
