The White House is considering a plan to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, according to a report by the Telegraph on Sunday. U.S. officials have drafted a proposal to bypass the United Kingdom and negotiate directly with Mauritius to take control of the strategically important Diego Garcia atoll.
Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia, located in the Indian Ocean, hosts a joint U.S.-UK military facility that has been vital for nearly 60 years. A U.S. official stated, "President Trump has been consistent in his position that the United Kingdom should not give away the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes our joint U.S.-UK military facility on the Diego Garcia atoll." The official emphasized that "Diego Garcia's strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a vital and indispensable military installation of significant importance to the national security of the United States." The U.S. remains in regular discussions with Britain to preserve the island's viability as a regional security platform.
UK's Stance and Agreement with Mauritius
Britain's government in April put on hold its deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move that had been criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump said in February that the deal was "a big mistake." A UK government spokesperson explained, "The government inherited a situation where UK control over the military base on Diego Garcia was under threat and action was required to protect UK national interests and to prevent our adversaries from getting a foothold in a location of such strategic importance." The spokesperson added that maintaining long-term operational control and security of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the UK-Mauritius agreement, which was born out of real long-term risks to the base that both the UK and U.S. are well aware of.
The White House's proposal is among several options being drafted in a paper aimed at providing alternatives to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer ceding sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. The plan would involve the U.S. purchasing the islands directly, bypassing the UK's ongoing negotiations.
