WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) has renewed his opposition to the United Kingdom’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the Diego Garcia military base, to Mauritius. His remarks come ahead of U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to Washington to meet with President Trump this week.
Kennedy voiced concerns that the deal could compromise U.S. national security interests, arguing that Mauritius has close economic ties with China, which could exploit the transfer to enhance its influence in the Indian Ocean region.
“Now, there is one other thing you need to know. Mauritius is very close to China. Mauritius has a very lucrative trade agreement with China, and you’ll not be surprised to learn that, after all of this has been developing, China all of a sudden is Mauritius’s best friend,” Kennedy stated. “Do you know why? Because if Prime Minister Starmer does this, Mauritius is going to own the base. They are going to own the base.”
The U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia is considered a strategic stronghold for defense and intelligence operations in the Indian Ocean, particularly in countering China’s growing presence in the region. Kennedy criticized the move as an unnecessary concession to international pressure, adding:
“I don’t care what Prime Minister Starmer promises you. The only reason he is doing this is because he feels guilty because the United Nations has said that the United Kingdom should be ashamed of its history and ashamed that it at one time owned colonies. . . . We have got an American military base there, and it is very important to defend the Indian Ocean against China.”
Background on the Diego Garcia Dispute
- October 2024: The U.K. announced it had reached a deal with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, where Diego Garcia is located. The move followed years of U.N. pressure urging Britain to relinquish control of the islands.
- October 23, 2024: Kennedy sent a letter to then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, requesting clarity on the Biden administration’s role in encouraging the U.K. to enter negotiations with Mauritius.
- January 2025: Following Starmer’s announcement that he would seek input from the Trump administration before finalizing the deal, Kennedy welcomed the shift in an op-ed.
Concerns Over National Security
Several U.S. officials have echoed Kennedy’s concerns:
- National Security Advisor Mike Waltz warned that transferring the Chagos Islands to Mauritius would create a power vacuum that China could exploit.
- Senator Marco Rubio called the deal a “serious threat to our national security interests in the Indian Ocean.”
With Starmer set to meet with Trump, Kennedy continues to push for stronger U.S. opposition to the deal, emphasizing the need to preserve Diego Garcia as a key U.S. military asset.