Trump weighs direct purchase of Chagos Islands from Mauritius as UK deal stalls
The White House is examining a plan to purchase the Chagos Islands directly from Mauritius, bypassing the UK, to safeguard the Diego Garcia military base, according to the Telegraph.
A stalled handover
In May 2025, the UK government signed a deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease on Diego Garcia, a joint US-UK base. Washington, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, initially called the agreement a "monumental achievement". But in early 2026, President Donald Trump reversed course, calling it a "big mistake" on Truth Social. After talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Britain put the deal on hold in April.
The buy option
On Sunday, the Telegraph reported that the White House is drafting a plan to purchase the islands directly from Mauritius, bypassing the UK entirely. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly backs the idea. One source told the paper that direct negotiations would begin once sovereignty is transferred to Mauritius. The White House has not commented, and the UK Foreign Office did not respond to requests.
Why Diego Garcia matters
Diego Garcia sits roughly 3,800 kilometres from Iran and is vital for US and British military operations in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. It can stage long-range bomber missions and houses sensitive facilities.
In March, Iran launched ballistic missiles at the base, though none struck the facility. American officials also worry that if Mauritius, which has ties to China, gains full control over the archipelago, it could open doors to Chinese surveillance.There are important and highly classified facilities on the base.
- UK and Mauritius sign sovereignty deal, 99-year lease on Diego Garcia
- Trump calls deal a 'big mistake' on Truth Social
- Iran launches ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, base undamaged
- UK puts sovereignty handover on hold
- Telegraph reports US considering buying Chagos from Mauritius
Mauritius pushes back
On Monday, Mauritius said it had received no official proposal from the US. A government statement declared:
The Indian Ocean nation previously reached the 2025 deal with Britain, which included annual payments of £101 million for the base lease.Mauritius’s sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is non-negotiable.
Human cost
The dispute echoes decades-old grievances. Between the 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly displaced up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to make way for the base. Louis Olivier Bancoult, a Chagossian leader, has accused British authorities of ignoring the community’s interests and reiterated their right to return.
