Britain is confident its plan to secure the future of a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia will be ratified, despite being dismissed by the new Mauritian prime minister and an ally of President-elect Donald Trump.

The new government of Mauritius has raised concerns about UK plans to secure a key US military base after giving up sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, people familiar with its thinking said. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is seeking to finalise a long-term lease over the Diego Garcia base on the Indian Ocean islands after a deal to relinquish control was agreed with the previous Mauritian leader last month.

Nigel Farage has claimed that senior members of Donald Trump's incoming cabinet are "horrified" at Sir Keir Starmer's plans to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The prime minister and David Lammy have insisted had no choice but to hand over the islands,

The British government says it is confident its plan to secure the future of a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia will be ratified after an ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and the new Mauritian prime minister publicly dismissed the deal.