Mauritius says 'new deal' reached with UK on Chagos Islands

Mauritius's prime minister said Tuesday that his country had reached a newly renegotiated deal with Britain over control of the strategic Chagos Islands, but was awaiting US President Donald Trump's opinion.

Britain and its former colony reached a deal in October to hand back Chagos -- which it kept control of after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s -- provided a UK-US military base remains on the largest island, Diego Garcia.

But after Navin Ramgoolam became prime minister in November he reopened talks, reportedly seeking greater financial compensation and to renegotiate the length of the bases's proposed lease.

"We have reached an agreement ready to be signed with Great Britain concerning Chagos," Ramgoolam told parliament on Tuesday, following a question from the opposition.

The prime minister said the vital question of Mauritius's "unambiguous, undiluted" sovereignty over the entire archipelago, including Diego Garcia, "has been taken into account in the new deal".

He did not give further details.

But he said that a possible extension of the 99-year lease on the military base would be "discussed by both parties".

Ramgoolan said previously they would have to wait for an opinion from Donald Trump's administration.

Britain in January said they would consult the new US government after the deal was criticised by some of Trump's Republican allies.

"As we have always said over and over again, President Trump is not a wolf. Let him see whether the deal is good or bad," Ramgoolam said in parliament.

"That's where we are."

"The president has just taken office... He has his own priorities. I'm not in a position to impose a timetable on him," Ramgoolam said.

Britain set up the Diego Garcia base after independence and leased it to the United States, which has used it as a hub for long-range bombers and ships, notably during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But in doing so, Britain evicted thousands of Chagos islanders who have since mounted a series of legal claims for compensation in British courts.

Under the previously proposed agreement, the UK would retain a 99-year lease on the base for a payment of £90 million ($110 million) a year, according to British media.

If Washington refuses to support the deal, Ramgoolam said Mauritius would pursue its fight for full sovereignty over the Chagos islands.