The UK must hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, even if Donald Trump scuttles the current proposed agreement, the Mauritian prime minister has said. Navin Ramgoolam has demanded that deal or no deal, the Chagos Islands should return to Mauritian control.

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.

Marco Rubio, Trump's pick as secretary of state, has said the deal poses a threat to U.S. security by ceding the archipelago - with its base used by U.S. long-range bombers and warships - to a country he claims is allied with China.

Mauritius is in “no rush” to secure a Chagos Islands deal with the UK and is still pushing for more money, officials have told The Telegraph.

Attorney general of Mauritius says it is ‘unfortunate’ that Donald Trump has the final say on whether deal should go ahead

UK Halts Chagos Islands Deal as US Review Looms The UK government has paused its plans to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The decision comes as the US prepares to review the implications of the deal for its key military base,

Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam criticised the deal and described Britain’s agreement the government before his as a ‘sell out’.