Fact check: Sir Keir Starmer ‘to push ahead’ with Chagos Islands deal. Insane, so £18 billion pound being paid to Mauritius, a country with a GDP of $14.4 billion. This is potentially the worst deal any Government has ever negotiated. No-self respecting Government could ever agree to such a capitulation & humiliating deal, yet despite the fact the ICJ ruling was purely advisory, our Government is determined to push ahead with this.

1. Summary of the results

The core elements of the deal involve the UK transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, with a lease-back arrangement for Diego Garcia military base for 99 years at £90 million annually, totaling approximately £8.9 billion ^[1]. While the original statement mentions £18 billion, this figure represents potential costs including inflation adjustments, though Downing Street disputes this calculation ^[2]. The Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has claimed that Starmer effectively doubled the original £9 billion offer ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits crucial historical and legal context:

• Multiple international bodies, including the UN Maritime Law Tribunal and International Court of Justice, have ruled in favor of Mauritius' claim to the islands ^{[4] [5]}
• The dispute has been ongoing since the 1960s ^[5]
• The deal includes financial support and a trust fund for Chagossians, though many Chagossian representatives feel excluded from negotiations ^[6]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

Several aspects of the original statement require correction or context:

• The statement claims the ICJ ruling was "purely advisory" while downplaying that multiple international bodies have consistently ruled in favor of Mauritius ^{[4] [5]}
• The £18 billion figure is disputed, with the actual base cost being £8.9 billion before inflation adjustments ^[1]
• The statement ignores the complex geopolitical implications:

There are concerns from the Trump administration about potential Chinese influence ^[7]

Conservative politicians like Priti Patel and Robert Jenrick view it as "national sabotage" ^[2]

Mauritius views this as Africa's "last decolonisation" ^[3]

**Competing Interests:**

UK Conservative Opposition: Benefits from portraying the deal as financially irresponsible and a security risk ^[2]

• Mauritius Government: Benefits from portraying the deal as a victory for decolonization while securing significant financial compensation ^[3]
• Chagossian People: Have interests in the outcome but feel excluded from negotiations ^[6]
• US Military: Has strategic interests in maintaining the Diego Garcia base ^[6]