President Trump’s administration is weighing a bold plan to buy the Chagos Islands, including the vital Diego Garcia military outpost, straight from Mauritius. This move would sidestep Britain’s stalled handover deal and secure long-term American control over a key asset in the Indian Ocean.
Diego Garcia has served as a critical U.S.-UK base for decades, supporting long-range bomber missions, surveillance, and operations from the Gulf to the Indo-Pacific. It played major roles in conflicts including the Gulf War and operations against Iraq, providing an unsinkable platform far from potential adversaries.
The UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed an agreement in 2025 to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back the base for 99 years. Critics, including Trump, called the deal a risky giveaway that could expose the facility to influence from Mauritius, which has ties to China and Iran. Trump labeled it an act of weakness that signals vulnerability to America’s rivals.
With the UK deal now paused amid U.S. pressure, White House officials have floated bypassing London entirely. The proposal involves the U.S. purchasing the islands outright after Mauritius gains formal sovereignty, ensuring the base stays firmly in reliable hands without relying on foreign leases or allies’ shifting politics.
This America First approach prioritizes hard security over diplomatic niceties. Diego Garcia’s location makes it indispensable for projecting power against threats from Beijing and Tehran. Handing any leverage to less dependable partners risks future access at a time when global competition is intensifying.
Trump’s team sees the purchase as a practical solution to protect U.S. interests, avoiding the pitfalls of the original transfer that many viewed as shortsighted. Details remain under discussion, but the direction is clear: secure the base, pay for certainty, and prevent potential adversaries from gaining a foothold in a strategic waterway.
