Mauritius prime minister says Trump comments on Chagos deal positive

FILE PHOTO: New Prime Minister of Mauritius and candidate for Alliance du Changement party Navin Ramgoolam attends his swearing-in ceremony as Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun witnesses, in Reduit, Mauritius November 13, 2024. REUTERS/Ally Soobye/File Photo

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Mauritius' Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam has described as "positive" U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that signalled Washington would likely back a deal over the future of a U.S.-UK military base in the Chagos Islands.

Britain struck the agreement in October to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while retaining control under a 99-year lease of the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago in the Indian Ocean.