Starmer defends Chagos agreement as ‘good deal’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Prime Minister has defended the Chagos Islands agreement as a “good deal” amid reported criticism from the new leader of Mauritius and the incoming Trump administration. New Mauritian prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, a critic of the deal before he took office, reportedly expressed continued reservations after a meeting with the UK’s national security adviser Jonathan Powell on Monday. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The US system understands why this is a good deal that protects both US and UK national security interests, but obviously we look forward to working with the incoming administration, engaging them on a on a range of issues across trade and investment, national security, etc. There's been a change of leadership in Mauritius, and as you would expect we've been engaging with the new administration on the details of the deal, and those meetings have been productive Downing Street The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “There’s been a change of leadership in Mauritius, and as you would expect we’ve been engaging with the new administration on the details of the deal, and those meetings have been productive.