President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a U.S. purchase of the Chagos Islands as part of an effort to secure long-term American control of the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, according to a report published Sunday by the Telegraph, the latest twist in a years-long dispute involving Britain, Mauritius, and one of Washington’s most important overseas installations. Citing U.S. officials familiar with the discussions, the Telegraph reported that Trump administration officials have explored whether the United States could acquire the archipelago as an alternative to a plan by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius.The Washington Examiner reached out to the White House for comment.
Graphic by Grace Hagerman / Washington Examiner
The report comes amid growing uncertainty surrounding a 2025 agreement negotiated by Starmer that would transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while allowing Britain and the United States to continue operating the joint military base on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease arrangement.
The deal was hailed by Britain as a way to resolve a long-running territorial dispute that intensified after international courts and United Nations bodies questioned London’s claim to the islands. Mauritius has long argued that the archipelago was illegally separated from the country before independence.