The UK and Mauritius said on Monday that they had made good progress in talks to save the Chagos Islands.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government said he was considering frontloading payments to Mauritius to sweeten the deal.

He said it involved giving up sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory and leasing back a strategically important UK-U.S. military base located there.

The plan ran into difficulties following the election of a new prime minister in Mauritius last year and scepticism in U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inner circle.

The Labour government under Mr Starmer agreed to give up control over the islands following a long-running legal battle that resulted in the International Court of Justice and the UN supporting Mauritian claims to sovereignty.

However, the Conservatives condemned the move, while Mr Trump’s pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, has described the deal as a threat to U.S. security.

Mr Rubio said this because of its implications for the Diego Garcia base.

Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said the UK wanted to finalise the deal before Mr Trump’s inauguration on January 20.

He is understood to have pushed for more money after restarting negotiations. He argues that the draft deal he inherited on taking office in November 2024 “would not produce the benefits that the nation could expect.”

Mr Starmer’s Downing Street office has repeatedly refused to be drawn on how much the deal to give up the islands and lease back the base for 99 years would cost the British taxpayer.

However, the Financial Times has reported that the offer stands at around £90 million ($109 million) per year, and an initial payment could include several years’ worth.

In a joint statement on Monday, the UK and Mauritian governments said they remained committed to a deal following talks in London.

“Good progress has been made, and discussions are ongoing to reach an agreement that is in both sides’ interests.

“Both countries reiterated their commitment to concluding a treaty providing that Mauritius is sovereign over the Chagos Archipelago to ensure the long-term, secure, and effective operation of the base on Diego Garcia,” the statement said.

(dpa/NAN)