White House Considers Purchasing Chagos Islands from Mauritius
The White House is evaluating a proposal to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, a move that could disrupt the United Kingdom's plan to hand over sovereignty of the strategically important territory, according to a report by The Telegraph. US officials have developed options to bypass Britain and directly negotiate control over Diego Garcia, the key UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean.
The proposal is part of a broader internal paper prepared by officials in the Trump administration, outlining alternatives to the agreement pursued by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government. The Telegraph report indicates that US officials are concerned about the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts a critical military facility used for long-range operations across West Asia.
US-UK Discussions on Diego Garcia's Future
The White House has been in regular discussions with Downing Street over securing the base's long-term future. However, a direct US purchase is now being examined as one of several possible paths. A US official told The Telegraph that Washington and London are working together to preserve the viability of Diego Garcia as a regional security platform.
Strategic Concerns Over Mauritius Deal
The UK had previously agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a long-term lease over Diego Garcia. However, the US has raised objections due to security risks, particularly given Mauritius' diplomatic ties with China and Iran. Senior US officials fear that a transfer of sovereignty could increase the risk of surveillance threats around the strategically sensitive base. Diego Garcia is widely regarded as a key American military hub in the Indian Ocean, supporting long-range bomber missions and intelligence operations.
Internal US Proposals and Political Pushback
The US proposal is one of several options being considered in a policy paper, though it is not the leading plan at this stage. Any acquisition would require coordination with Britain and subsequent negotiations with Mauritius. The idea has already been raised within US treasury circles and brought to senior levels of the Trump administration. Trump had earlier criticised the UK-Mauritius arrangement, reportedly calling it an act of great stupidity and warning that Britain was losing strategic control of the territory.
Stalled UK-Mauritius Agreement
The UK had planned to transfer the islands while leasing back the Diego Garcia base for decades, but the deal has faced delays amid US opposition. Downing Street has previously stated that it would only proceed with any transfer if Washington agreed to the arrangement, effectively making US approval central to the outcome. Mauritius has long contested Britain's sovereignty over the Chagos Islands at international forums, and the issue has remained a persistent diplomatic dispute. Diego Garcia remains one of the most sensitive military installations jointly used by the UK and the US, with analysts frequently highlighting its importance in global force projection.
