The Trump Administration is reportedly exploring the possibility of the United States purchasing the Chagos Islands from Mauritius to secure long-term control over the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base amid a stalled British handover agreement.
The Chagos Archipelago is located in the central Indian Ocean, a remote chain of atolls whose largest island, Diego Garcia, has hosted a joint U.S.-U.K. military facility for decades. This base stands out for its central location, roughly midway between Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia, which enables efficient power projection across key maritime routes and operational theaters.
Its airfield supports heavy bombers such as B-52s and B-2s, while the deep-water harbor accommodates aircraft carriers and other large vessels. Extensive storage facilities hold pre-positioned fuel, munitions, and supplies, which allow for rapid response without heavy dependence on distant logistical chains.
These capabilities have made Diego Garcia integral to U.S. military operations. The base supported coalition efforts in the 1991 Gulf War, the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the 2003 Iraq campaign, and recent strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. In an era of heightened competition with powers such as China and Iran, the installation provides surveillance, intelligence, and deterrence functions that help maintain freedom of navigation in vital sea lanes.
Analysts often refer to it as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier,” underscoring its value as a secure, isolated platform that serves multiple U.S. combatant commands simultaneously.
A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, parks at Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia, in support of a Bomber Task Force mission, March 22, 2024
The United Kingdom administered the islands as the British Indian Ocean Territory after separating them from Mauritius in 1965. Mauritius has long contested that separation as unlawful and pursued international legal avenues to reclaim sovereignty.
In October 2024, the U.K. government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer reached a political agreement with Mauritius to transfer sovereignty. The deal, formally signed in May 2025, included a 99-year lease allowing continued joint U.K.-U.S. operations on Diego Garcia while placing the broader archipelago under Mauritian control.
British officials cited the need to resolve longstanding legal uncertainties and avoid potential adverse rulings in international courts.
However, the agreement encountered substantial hurdles at the time. Then incoming Trump administration expressed strong reservations, with President Trump publicly criticizing the transfer as unwise given the base’s importance and Mauritius’s relationships with countries including China and Iran. Facing these concerns and a lack of full U.S. backing, the U.K. suspended ratification efforts in April 2026.
Mauritius has indicated it would wait until the end of July 2026 for further progress before considering next steps.
In response to the current impasse, U.S. officials have developed internal options to address the situation. According to a report from The Telegraph, one proposal under consideration involves the United States directly purchasing the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, bypassing the U.K. framework to establish firmer American control over the territory.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly raised the idea with President Trump as part of a broader policy paper outlining alternatives. The concept would aim to place Diego Garcia and the surrounding islands under direct U.S. administration or ownership, ensuring operational continuity without reliance on third-party lease arrangements.
As of this report, the purchase option remains one of several under review and has not advanced to formal negotiations. Mauritius stated that it has not received any official U.S. proposal on the matter.
