Mauritius could ‘rent’ islands near crucial Chagos military base to China and spark Cuban Missile crisis style confrontation unless UK hands over sovereignty and £9bn, claims minister

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR MAILONLINE

Published: 09:54 GMT, 12 February 2025 | Updated: 10:34 GMT, 12 February 2025

Mauritius could rent out islands near the crucial Diego Garcia military base to China or Russia unless the UK hands over Chagos sovereignty, a minister claimed today.

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said doubts about the legal status of the British overseas territory would mean there would be ‘no basis to remove’ a hostile power.

Writing in the Times, he suggested that could trigger a confrontation similar to the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

The extraordinary warning came as the government scrambles to justify the proposed ceding of the territory to Mauritius. Under a mooted deal the UK would rent back the UK-US base on Diego Garcia for the next century for £90million a year – plus inflation.

However, critics have condemned ministers for caving in, dismissing an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice that Britain does not own the islands.

Mauritius could rent out islands near the crucial Diego Garcia military base to China or Russia unless the UK hands over Chagos sovereignty, a minister claimed today 

Allies of Donald Trump (pictured) have questioned the agreement, with the president said to be reviewing the terms – which were approved by the Biden administration

Allies of Donald Trump have questioned the agreement, with the president said to be reviewing the terms – which were approved by the Biden administration.   

Keir Starmer has also argued that control of satellite communications could be put at risk if a deal is not done.  

Mr Doughty insisted a deal would ‘strengthen our position in the region’, adding: ‘If you value UK national security, and that of our allies, you should support this deal’.

Mr Doughty raised the prospect of Mauritius leasing one of the other islands – such as Peros Banhos, Danger Island and the Egmont Islands – to a foreign power.

The proposed deal is thought to block that from happening.

‘Our adversaries would jump at the chance to establish outposts on the outer islands,’ he said. 

‘With a guise of legality on their side, we would have no basis to remove them and efforts to do so could spark a serious confrontation.’ 

‘If we don’t pay, someone else will.’

The minister added: ‘The British Indian Ocean Territory deal is rooted in a rational and hard-headed determination to protect UK national security.

‘This deal will protect the base on Diego Garcia and cement UK and US presence in the Indo-Pacific for generations to come.’

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty (pictured) said doubts about the legal status of the British overseas territory would mean there would be ‘no basis to remove’ a hostile power

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Mauritius could ‘rent’ islands near crucial Chagos military base to China and spark Cuban Missile crisis style confrontation unless UK hands over sovereignty and £9bn, claims minister

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