Chagos deal defended from claims 'Trump is laughing'

A MINISTER has said the US will be paying “many multiples more” to operate the Diego Garcia military base than the UK will pay to lease it under the Chagos deal.

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It comes as leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch said the agreement would leave Donald Trump “laughing”.

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard defended the deal as “good value”.

In a treaty to “complete the process of decolonisation of Mauritius”, the Government has agreed to pay at least £120 million a year for 99 years for control of the vital Diego Garcia base, plus hand over £1.125 billion for economic development over a 25-year period.

The Government has faced questions about its estimation of the full cost.