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.

After US President Donald Trump’s go-ahead, the United Kingdom and Mauritius are expected to seal the Chagos Islands deal this week

US President Donald Trump has indicated he would be prepared to back Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's deal to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The agreement includes a plan to lease back the strategically important US-UK military base on Diego Garcia at British taxpayers' expense.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday he was inclined to back a deal between Britain and Mauritius over the future of a U.S.-UK military base in the Chagos Islands, in a boost for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Reform UK’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, has slammed the Government’s potential Chagos deal after Donald Trump appeared to give it his backing. Nigal Farage’s party, he added, would carry on fighting against the proposed arrangement, which would see the UK yield sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.

The Chagos Islands deal will not go forward without the support of US President Donald Trump, the foreign secretary has said. David Lammy told ITV's Peston programme, the UK had "a shared military and intelligence interest" with the US "and of course they've got to be happy with the deal or there is no deal".

The controversial Chagos deal will be sent to Mauritius for sign-off as soon as tomorrow, sources in the island nation have said. Just days after Donald Trump appeared to give the handover his backing,