If Britain wants to remain a reliable partner in our security alliance, it must be willing to defend its sovereignty. As much as President Trump uses unpredictability as a diplomatic tool, I can predict one thing for sure: there is no way he will allow Britain to give up its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

Britain struck a deal in October to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius - a former colony that became independent in 1968 - while retaining control under a 99-year lease of the military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago.

Britain and Mauritius denied on Wednesday media reports that London could end up paying double the amount in a renegotiated deal to retain a U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

Government refuses to confirm true cost of inflation-liked deal as opposition to Prime Minister’s agreement grows

Britain's government insisted Wednesday that it must hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius to secure continued access to satellite communications at a key US-UK military base. The base is leased to the United States and has become one of its key military facilities in the Asia-Pacific.