The UK government has denied allegations from Mauritius's prime minister that it would incur additional costs under a revised agreement concerning the Chagos Islands.
In October, the UK declared its intention to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on the UK-US military airbase on Diego Garcia, the largest island.
Despite these terms, the new Mauritian Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, sought to reopen negotiations, stating that the UK's lease payments would now be tied to inflation and paid up front.
The UK Foreign Office refuted these claims as "inaccurate and misleading," affirming that any agreement reached would be in the national interest.
While some government officials have criticized the proposed deal as "terrible", the UK paused progress on it to consult with the new US administration, led by President Donald Trump.
Mauritius has business ties with China, raising concerns from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about potential threats to US security in the region.
Pending input from the Trump administration and renegotiation discussions, the Mauritian Prime Minister expressed confidence in the new deal's approval, emphasizing the need for a fair and inflation-proof agreement.
Both sides are in dispute over the details of the renegotiated deal, with conflicting statements on lease extension options and payment terms.
Opposition figures in the UK, including Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, have criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the agreement, urging the government to provide more information to the public and Parliament.
Various politicians, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, have expressed skepticism and opposition to the deal, emphasizing the potential negative implications of surrendering control of the Chagos Islands.
The history of the Chagos Islands, which were separated from Mauritius in 1965 by the UK, includes the forcible removal of the local population to accommodate the Diego Garcia military base.
Mauritius has continuously claimed sovereignty over the islands, and the UN's highest court has ruled that the UK's administration of the territory is illegal.
The Chagos islanders, dispersed in various locations, have differing opinions on the proposed agreement, with some feeling excluded from the negotiation process.