Marco Rubio, Trump's pick as secretary of state, has said the deal poses a threat to U.S. security by ceding the archipelago - with its base used by U.S. long-range bombers and warships - to a country he claims is allied with China.

The prime minister of Mauritius has accused Sir Keir Starmer’s government of trying to fast-track its Chagos Islands deal, then backing out as Donald Trump’s inauguration loomed closer...

Britain’s government has confirmed that it will not finalize a deal to hand over sovereignty of the contested Chagos Islands to Mauritius until President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is consulted.

Officials from the UK and Mauritius had reportedly been hurrying to finalise the deal before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on 20 January. View on euronews

Mauritius is in “no rush” to secure a Chagos Islands deal with the UK and is still pushing for more money, officials have told The Telegraph.

The UK is “mid-negotiation” on a revised deal to hand back the Chagos Islands, a minister has said. Reports had suggested that Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam is holding a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning to sign off the deal.

Donald Trump will rule on the future of the Chagos Islands after his team directly intervened in the British Government’s deal.