The Trump administration is weighing a plan to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, according to reporting by the Telegraph, as the White House explores options to secure long-term control of the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base. U.S. officials have drawn up the proposal as an alternative to the UK’s plan to cede sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius, a move Trump has consistently opposed since taking office.
Under the reported proposal, the Trump administration would sidestep UK officials entirely and negotiate a direct purchase from Mauritius, thereby securing control of the joint U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly presented the idea to Trump, though sources indicate it is not currently the administration’s leading option.
The purchase plan emerged after the UK and Mauritius signed a landmark agreement in May 2025 to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while allowing the UK to retain control of Diego Garcia for at least 99 years. However, the UK shelved legislation to ratify the deal in April 2026 after the Trump administration withdrew its support, citing concerns about ceding control to an ally of China and opening the possibility of espionage.
Diego Garcia’s strategic value lies in its location in the central Indian Ocean, approximately 2,360 miles from Iran. The base hosts an extensive airfield capable of accommodating long-range bombers such as the B-2 and B-52, a deep-water naval port for aircraft carrier support and maintenance, and vital radar installations and Space Force tracking stations. Since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran in late February 2026, Iran has launched multiple strikes on the facility, underscoring its operational importance.
A U.S. official told Reuters that “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 added 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 UK government has signaled it will not proceed with the Mauritius deal without U.S. support. A government spokesperson stated: “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 UK and U.S. remain in regular discussions to preserve the island’s viability as a regional security platform, according to U.S. officials.
The White House did not respond to requests for comment on the purchase proposal. The plan is one of several options being drafted by the administration, which has been exploring alternatives to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sovereignty transfer since Trump took office in January 2026.
Sources
- The Guardian — Trump’s reported plan to buy Chagos Islands, Treasury Secretary Bessent’s proposal, UK-US negotiations
- Reuters — U.S. officials’ proposal to bypass UK and purchase islands, U.S. official statement on strategic importance
- The Center Square — White House weighing options to secure Diego Garcia base
- BBC — UK sovereignty transfer deal terms and Trump’s opposition
- Council on Foreign Relations — Diego Garcia’s strategic importance and personnel
- Chatham House — Military capabilities and strategic significance of Diego Garcia base
