The UK government has denied claims made by the prime minister of Mauritius that it faces paying billions more under a renegotiated deal over the future of the Chagos Islands.

Sir Keir Starmer had been accused of "bending the knee" to Mauritius after the country's leader said the UK prime minister "intends to push ahead" with the new agreement.

Government denies claims Chagos Islands deal could cost £18 billion - There are signs of unease within the Government about the plan to hand over the British Indian Ocean Territory.

Mauritius welcomes the prospect of U.S. President Donald Trump examining a deal reached by Britain and Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which house a U.S.-British military base, the island nation's prime minister said Tuesday.

Deal would prevent a third party gaining influence over territory which hosts key Western military base, says foreign minister

Navin Ramgoolam said Trump was ‘not a wolf’ and it was better to let him review the prospective deal between the UK and Mauritius

The UK faces paying more to Mauritius under a renegotiated deal over the future of the Chagos Islands, the prime minister of the African island nation has suggested. Last October, the UK announced it would hand over sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius,

Mauritius's prime minister said Tuesday that his country had reached a newly renegotiated deal with Britain over control of the strategic Chagos Islands, but was awaiting US President Donald Trump's opinion.