It looks like taxpayers could be asked to cough up even more cash as talks with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands head into their final stages — and the price tag is creeping up. Mauritius, keen to strike a better deal before signing off, has gone back to the table asking for more money — specifically higher lease payments for the Diego Garcia military base, plus extra development funds on top of the hefty £9 billion already on the table. And while the UK insists it’s not upping the total cost, insiders have hinted that there’s wiggle room in how the money gets handed over.
Apparently, the UK has put forward three fresh payment options in recent weeks, each involving more of the 99-year lease being paid upfront. But so far, Mauritius has said no to two of them and is holding out for something better. According to one source close to the talks, “We didn’t even consider the first two options after consulting our legal experts. We are discussing the third option”, reported GB News.
