• Mauritius PM Navin Ramgoolam questions the lease term of a US-British military base on Chagos Islands.
• The lease, part of a deal from October, is set for 99 years but has yet to be ratified.
• Ramgoolam claims the deal undermines sovereignty and demands recognition of Mauritius’ ownership.
• Chagossians express discontent over negotiations without their involvement.
• The PM asserts a careful approach regarding the national interest in the long term.

Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has publicly questioned the duration of the lease on a military base jointly controlled by the United States and Britain, a significant point of contention as negotiations progress over the Chagos Islands. The UK reached an agreement in October to relinquish control of the islands, while still keeping authority over the base on Diego Garcia under a 99-year lease. However, this agreement remains ratified yet, raising concerns among Mauritian leaders.

Since succeeding the former government in November, Ramgoolam has criticized the timing and conditions of the lease, labeling the previous administration’s concessions as a "sell out." In a recent interview with the local L'Express, he emphasized that the lease should account for inflation and exchange rates, insisting on full recognition of Mauritius’ sovereignty over the islands. “It is not only a question of money, but of our sovereignty,” he stated, reinforcing the nation's claim over this disputed region.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was reportedly eager to finalize the deal quickly, particularly before the presidency of Donald Trump began. Concerns have been raised, including from figures like Marco Rubio, who argue that the deal could compromise US security, given the base's strategic importance for military operations spanning the Indian Ocean.

While the government seeks to safeguard long-term interests, some Chagossian representatives have expressed dissatisfaction with the negotiations, stating they cannot support an agreement that did not include their participation and declaring their intention to protest against the arrangement. “We are not in a hurry,” Ramgoolam affirmed, advocating for a more comprehensive approach to ensure national sovereignty is respected.

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