Burnham Suspends Chagos Payments After Trump Calls Deal Terrible
The UK is halting transfers to Mauritius and seeking a new model for the Diego Garcia base following strong objections from Washington.
By Kaito Sokolov ·
The United Kingdom has suspended payments totaling 165 million pounds to Mauritius while Prime Minister Andy Burnham seeks a new arrangement for the Chagos Islands.
This financial hold occurs after President Donald Trump publicly criticized the existing treaty as a terrible deal. The UK government is now working to restructure the agreement to address American concerns.
The original accord, negotiated by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. In exchange, the UK and US would retain control of the Diego Garcia military base through a 99-year lease.
The financial terms of that deal included payments of 165 million pounds over the first three years. Thereafter, the UK would pay an annual sum of 120 million pounds to Mauritius.
Burnham stated that the UK is discussing adjustments with its American counterparts. He pointed to the recent accord between the US and Denmark regarding Greenland as a potential template for a new solution.
The Greenland agreement allows the island to remain a Danish territory while permitting a major US military presence. It also prevents rival nations from building their own bases on the island.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting confirmed the suspension of payments to Mauritius. He said the current deal cannot proceed without American support, adding that the government needs an arrangement that commands the agreement of all three parties.
Trump voiced his opposition during a meeting in New York in September. He told reporters, I don’t support it. I think it’s a terrible deal.
Burnham made these remarks upon his return from the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Antigua. The trip focused on discussions with Caribbean nations regarding reparations for slavery.
The Prime Minister said his government opened the door to a potential official apology during those talks. He described the outcome as an achievement for the UK.
In other matters, Burnham is preparing to host the G20 summit in Manchester next year. He indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be excluded due to outstanding sanctions.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to attend the Manchester meeting. Burnham recalled a previous visit by Xi in 2015 and noted that the Chinese leader would see significant changes in the city.
