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Chagos Islands Surprise as president says he is 'inclined' to back handover to Mauritius
The Guardian
|February 28, 2025
Donald Trump has strongly hinted that he will back a deal in which the UK hands sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, including the Diego Garcia military base, which is jointly used by the US.
"I think we'll be inclined to go along with your country," the US president told reporters during an impromptu press conference in the Oval Office yesterday with Keir Starmer, on a visit to Washington. He added: "I have a feeling it's going to work out very well."
The apparent backing may be a surprise to British officials, who had been prepared for possible pushback against the idea.
Speaking the day before, David Lammy, the foreign secretary, said Trump would have an effective veto over the plan, given the joint use of Diego Garcia.
This story is from the February 28, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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