According to a report published by The Telegraph, the White House is considering a proposal to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, which could derail Britain’s plan to hand over sovereignty of the strategically important territory.US officials have prepared options to bypass Britain and negotiate directly for control of Diego Garcia, the key UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean, the report said.It said the proposal is part of a broader internal paper prepared by Donald Trump administration officials outlining options for a compromise being pursued by the UK government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.According to The Telegraph, US officials are concerned about the future of Diego Garcia, which hosts a key military facility used for long-range missions throughout the Middle East.The White House is in “regular discussions” with Downing Street to secure the long-term future of the base, but a direct US purchase is now being examined as one of several possible paths.A US official told the news outlet that Washington and London were working together “to preserve the viability of Diego Garcia as a regional security forum.”
Strategic concerns over Mauritius deal
Britain had previously agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a long-term lease on Diego Garcia. However, the US has objected amid concerns about security risks, especially given Mauritius’ diplomatic relations with China and Iran.Senior US officials fear that the transfer of sovereignty could increase the risk of surveillance threats around the strategically sensitive base.Diego Garcia is widely considered a major US military base in the Indian Ocean, supporting long-range bomber missions and intelligence operations.
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Internal American proposal and political counterargument
The US proposal is one of several options being considered in the policy paper, although it is not the leading plan at this stage, the report said. It also said that any acquisition would require coordination with the UK and then negotiations with Mauritius.The idea has already been raised in US fiscal circles and brought up at senior levels of the Trump administration.Trump had previously criticized the UK-Mauritius arrangement, reportedly calling it an act of “big stupidity” and warning that Britain was losing strategic control of the region.
UK-Mauritius agreement stalled
Britain had planned to transfer the islands while leasing the Diego Garcia base for decades, but the deal was delayed due to US opposition.Downing Street has previously said it would proceed with any transfer only 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 in international forums and the issue remains a persistent diplomatic dispute.Diego Garcia remains one of the most sensitive military installations jointly used by the UK and US, with analysts often highlighting its importance in global force projection.