Lafayette Reporter

Senator John Kennedy has expressed his views on the potential transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands from the United Kingdom to Mauritius, emphasizing the importance of consulting with former President Trump before finalizing any agreement. In an op-ed for The Telegraph, Kennedy highlighted concerns about national security and criticized previous efforts to expedite the deal without Trump's input.

Kennedy praised Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to involve Trump in negotiations, stating, "Friends don’t strike deals behind each other’s backs, especially when our shared security is on the line." He argued against yielding to pressure from international bodies like the United Nations, suggesting that their motives do not align with Western interests.

The senator emphasized that maintaining control over Diego Garcia—a key U.S.-U.K. military base located within the Chagos Islands—is crucial for American and allied security. He called for abandoning plans to transfer control to Mauritius, stating it would be safer if such a deal were "shredded for good."

Background information reveals that Starmer had initially supported moving forward with the agreement under pressure from both the Biden administration and impending elections. However, he later sought Trump's involvement after assuming office. Kennedy previously sought clarification from then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Biden's role in advancing this deal.

Critics of ceding control include former Representative Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Waltz warned of potential Chinese influence filling any resulting power vacuum, while Rubio described the deal as a threat to U.S. strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region.