More than two centuries of British control over the Chagos islands are set to end, with the UK preparing to hand ownership of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.

The UK's planned handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius should be considered by incoming US President Donald Trump before it goes ahead, Downing Street has said. Efforts were made to get the treaty signed before President-elect Trump's inauguration on Monday,

Britain will consult US President-elect Donald Trump's new administration before finalising a deal to return the strategic Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a UK government spokesperson said Wednesday.

Sir Keir Starmer faces being pushed for further concessions over his plan to cede sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, with the Mauritian government seeking another round of talks. A Cabinet meeting called by Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam did not sign off on the proposed deal and are instead sending a delegation back to London for further negotiations.