Trump's Veto Power
Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that Donald Trump has been given a veto on the UK’s plan to give up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. This revelation comes ahead of talks between Sir Keir Starmer and the White House.
Proposed Agreement Details
The proposed agreement entails the UK paying Mauritius £9 billion to take over the Indian Ocean islands in exchange for a 99-year lease to continue using the joint UK-US Diego Garcia military base located there.
Political Criticism and Pressure
Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism from MPs for not clarifying if funds from the UK’s defense spending increase would be allocated to the Chagos costs. Pressure mounted on the UK government amid concerns over transparency and accountability.
US Influence on Agreement
David Lammy highlighted that President Trump's approval is crucial for the deal to proceed, emphasizing the shared military and intelligence interests between the UK and the US. Without US consent, the agreement could face significant hurdles.
Government Response and Accusations
Downing Street and the Prime Minister faced scrutiny over the source of funding for the Chagos pact, with calls for transparency from both sides of the political spectrum. Accusations of a "cover-up" emerged as details on financing remained unclear.
Defence Secretary John Healey also refrained from confirming if the allocated funds could potentially be redirected towards the Chagos Islands agreement.
