For a tiny group of atolls comprising just over 20 square miles of land in the Indian Ocean, the Chagos Islands have a long and contentious history. The first inhabitants were slaves brought over by the French in the 18th century, and the territory was handed over by France to the British as part of Mauritius in 1814.

U.S. President-elect Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, Mark Rubio, told POLITICO last month that he fears the deal would boost China and warned the agreement poses “a serious threat” to U.S. national security. The Independent reported Wednesday that Trump's new team could even try to veto the deal.

The UK's deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will be met with "outright hostility” by the Trump administration, Nigel Farage has predicted. The Reform UK leader, a supporter and friend of the incoming US president, told MPs the agreement would put the UK at odds with an important ally.

Donald Trump has appointed a leading critic of the UK’s Chagos Islands deal with Mauritius as his national security adviser, in the clearest indication yet that the president-elect will oppose the plan.

Reuters

Donald Trump is looking to veto Labour's Chagos Islands surrender deal in a fresh blow to Sir Keir Starmer's foreign ambitions. The giveaway had been endorsed by Joe Biden - but in light of Trump's blowout victory last week,

Outright hostility’ to UK-Chagos deal in incoming Trump cabinet, says Farage - The UK Government announced its decision to relinquish sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius last month.