British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday told his Mauritian counterpart, Navin Ramgoolam, that he wants "strong protections", including from "malign influence", for a U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia,

Britain agreed last year to hand over the archipelago over to Mauritius after a decades-long dispute.British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Mauritian counterpart Navin Ramgoolam spoke directly for the first time about the Chagos Archipelago deal on Friday.

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.

The Prime Minister told Navin Ramgoolam he wants ‘strong protections’ for the UK-US military base on the island chain.

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.