Chagos Archipelago: Navin Ramgoolam Meets London’s Special Envoy

On Monday afternoon, November 25, a significant working meeting took place at the Treasury Building in Port-Louis between Navin Ramgoolam, the Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Jonathan Powell, the British Prime Minister’s special envoy and national security adviser. The purpose of the meeting was to advance discussions regarding the return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

Following a political agreement reached on October 3rd, a detailed treaty outlining the terms of the accord between the United Kingdom and Mauritius is currently in the final stages of preparation.

This treaty is expected to be presented and debated in the British Parliament, likely before the end of the year.

For the return of the archipelago to be officially enacted, a bill must be approved by the House of Commons.

During the meeting, Powell, who played a crucial role in facilitating the initial agreement, was expected to provide a draft treaty that would define the terms of the return while maintaining British control over Diego Garcia, which hosts a strategic military base, for an initial period of 99 years, subject to renewal.

He reassured Prime Minister Ramgoolam of the UK’s commitment to finalize the agreement as swiftly as possible.

The current U.S. administration, led by President Joe Biden, has expressed support for the ongoing negotiations.

However, the upcoming presidency of Donald Trump, set to begin in January 2025, has raised concerns. Influential figures close to Trump, such as Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth, have criticized the potential security risks associated with the return of the archipelago, especially with fears of increased Chinese influence in the region.

In light of these concerns, diplomatic efforts are underway to reassure Trump’s future administration regarding the agreement.

In addition, Jonathan Powell is expected to meet with American officials as part of these efforts.

Source: Defi Media