The prime minister has pressed Mauritius on the need for the Chagos Islands deal to allow "strong protections" for the UK-US military base there.

Sir Keir Starmer has told the Mauritian leader that the deal to give away the Chagos Islands must not aid China’s “malign influence”. The Prime Minister also urged Mauritius to ensure the deal allows “strong protections” for the key Western military base on Diego Garcia during the conversation with his counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam, on Friday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam on Friday spoke directly for the first time about the Chagos Islands deal, Starmer's office said.

Speculation is rife that U.S. President Donald Trump might block an agreement between Britain and Mauritius to resolve their long-running dispute over the Chagos Archipelago in the central Indian Ocean.