Chagos Islands Purchase Proposal: ‘To maintain viability as regional security platform’: US considering plan to buy Chagos Islands, report says

The White House is considering a proposal to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, a move that could derail Britain’s plans to hand over sovereignty over the strategically important territory, The Daily Telegraph reported.Reports say that U.S. officials have formulated a plan to bypass Britain and directly negotiate control of Diego Garcia, an important British and American military base in the Indian Ocean.It added that the proposal was part of a wider internal document prepared by officials in Donald Trump’s administration outlining alternatives to the deal being pursued by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s British government.U.S. officials are concerned about the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts key military facilities used for long-range operations in West Asia, The Daily Telegraph reported.The White House has been in “regular discussions” with Downing Street about securing the base’s long-term future, but the United States is now considering purchasing the base outright as one of several possible avenues.A U.S. official told the news outlet that Washington and London are working together to “preserve the viability of Diego Garcia as a regional security platform.”

Strategic concerns about the Mauritius Agreement

Britain previously agreed to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining its long-term lease on Diego Garcia. However, the United States raised objections due to concerns about security risks, especially given Mauritius’ diplomatic ties with China and Iran.Senior U.S. officials worry that the transfer of sovereignty could increase the risk of surveillance threats around strategically sensitive bases.Diego Garcia is widely considered an important U.S. military hub in the Indian Ocean, supporting long-range bomber missions and intelligence operations.

Internal U.S. proposals and political resistance

The U.S. proposal is one of several options being considered in policy documents, although it is not the main plan at this stage, the report said. It also noted that any acquisition would need to be coordinated with the UK and subsequently negotiated with Mauritius.The idea has been floated within the Treasury Department and presented to senior Trump administration officials.Trump had earlier criticized Britain’s arrangement with Mauritius, reportedly calling it “extremely stupid” and warning Britain was losing strategic control of the territory.

UK-Mauritius deal stalled

Britain has planned for decades to transfer the islands while leasing back the Diego Garcia base, but the deal faced delays due to U.S. opposition.Downing Street has previously said any transfer would only take place if Washington agrees to the arrangement, effectively making U.S. approval central to the outcome.Mauritius has long challenged British sovereignty over the Chagos Islands in international forums and the issue remains an ongoing diplomatic dispute.Diego Garcia remains one of the most sensitive military installations used jointly by Britain and the United States, with analysts regularly highlighting its importance in global power projection.