Former Conservative Defence Secretary, Sir Gavin Williamson, has warned that “the government will be weakening Britain’s national security” if it hands sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Today [1st April], it has been revealed that US President Donald Trump has given the deal the go ahead, just weeks after he told Keir Starmer he was “inclined to go with your country” on the deal and that he had “a feeling it’s going to work out very well.”
The plan, which will see Britain fork over an as yet unconfirmed number of billions to lease a military base on the island of Diego Garcia from Mauritius, was announced in October of last year, but was thrown into doubt following changes of government in both Mauritius and Washington.
Sir Gavin Williamson, who previously slammed the plan as “absolute madness“, today told PoliticsUK: “There is no reason that Britain should be doing this deal with Mauritius. The justification for doing such a deal is misguided, there is no legal obligation for us to do so.
“By making this agreement, the government will be weakening Britain’s national security but also handing over billions of pounds that would be far better invested in our country and on our defences.”
