British MP proposes selling Diego Garcia to US for £6 billion
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Defimedia
British Conservative MP Edward Leigh has proposed selling the Diego Garcia military base to the United States for £6 billion. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting rejected the option as London negotiates with Mauritius and Washington over the base’s future, according to Defimedia.
British Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh proposed in the House of Commons on Monday, 19 October, that the Diego Garcia military base be sold directly to the United States for £6 billion, or about 378 billion Mauritian rupees, according to Defimedia. He suggested using the proceeds to increase UK defence spending, with a target of 3% of gross domestic product by 2030.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting rejected the proposal. He said London was instead seeking an agreement with Mauritius and Washington to maintain military operations on the Chagos Archipelago atoll over the long term.
The British government says it wants to ensure the base can operate in the long term and protect national security. Diego Garcia is used jointly by the UK and the United States. The negotiations are taking place as sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is transferred to Mauritius, with a legal arrangement envisaged to preserve the military presence.
Sir Edward Leigh’s proposal comes after London set out its intention to negotiate with Mauritius and Washington over the future of Diego Garcia. The British government presented its search for an agreement on 20 October.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
