Andy Burnham seeks resolution to Diego Garcia dispute after call with Mauritius PM
The prime minister told Navin Ramgoolam he would work towards a resolution over the disputed Diego Garcia base, and vowed to secure its long-term operation as UN General Assembly week begins in New York.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to work towards a resolution of the long-running dispute over the Diego Garcia military base, after speaking by phone on Monday with his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam.
Downing Street said Burnham “underlined his commitment to working with Mauritius and the United States on a way forward that secures the operation of the base and protects UK national security”, Reuters reported.
Speaking to reporters en route to New York for the UN General Assembly, Burnham said: “We remain determined to secure the long-term operation of the base, which is crucial to our security and that of our allies.” He added: “The assurance I gave was I will work towards a resolution. At the moment we don’t have that, but I gave an assurance that I would commit to working towards one.”
Britain agreed in May 2025, under Keir Starmer, to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius after more than 200 years of control, keeping a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia base. The implementing bill has stalled in Parliament since Donald Trump withdrew US support, calling the deal “a big mistake”.
Under the terms, the UK would pay Mauritius about £101 million a year — roughly £3.4 billion over the lease. The two foreign ministers will meet in New York this week, and Burnham is expected to meet Trump at the General Assembly today.
Sources
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