White House Considers Purchasing Chagos Islands From Mauritius to Secure Diego Garcia Base
The Telegraph reported on June 7 that the White House is examining a direct purchase of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, listed in an internal policy paper as one option alongside alternatives to Britain's shelved sovereignty-transfer deal, though not currently the administration's preferred choice
Listing a direct-purchase option in a White House policy paper marks a qualitative shift from blocking the UK-Mauritius sovereignty transfer to seeking US sovereign control of the archipelago. Having already forced London to shelve ratification, the administration has closed the lease-based path. Security concerns about Mauritius's ties to Iran and China cannot be addressed through lease guarantees, which leaves ownership as the administration's logical floor. The option may instead function as coercive pressure on Mauritius and Britain to accept revised lease terms rather than signal genuine acquisition intent. Confidence is low: the Telegraph is the sole primary source, Reuters could not independently confirm, and no party to the discussions has issued an official statement.
5 sources
- Trump mulling purchase of Chagos Islands to secure US base on Diego Garcia: Report -
Washington Examiner - US considers buying Chagos Islands from Mauritius, report says -
South China Morning Post - Trump Administration Weighs Purchase of Chagos Islands to Secure Diego Garcia Base -
The Defense News - White House considering purchase of Chagos Islands from Mauritius -
Reuters - White House considers buying Chagos Islands to secure Diego Garcia base -
The Telegraph