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The White House is exploring several options regarding the future of the Chagos Islands, including a proposal under which the United States would purchase the territory from Mauritius, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The idea, first reported by The Telegraph, is being considered as Britain moves forward with plans to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while maintaining access to the Diego Garcia military base through a long-term lease agreement.
According to officials familiar with the talks, U.S. and British representatives have continued discussions about preserving the long-term viability of Diego Garcia, which hosts a joint U.S.-U.K. military facility in the Indian Ocean.
A U.S. official told The Telegraph that both governments remain focused on protecting the base’s strategic role as a regional security hub.
Sources said the possibility of a U.S. purchase has been discussed with Scott Bessent and brought to the attention of President Trump. However, officials emphasized that the idea is not currently viewed as the preferred course of action.
Diego Garcia has long been considered one of the United States’ most important overseas military installations because of its location and its role in supporting operations across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
Some administration officials have expressed concern that transferring sovereignty to Mauritius could create new security vulnerabilities. Mauritius maintains diplomatic and economic ties with China and Iran, prompting some U.S. officials to warn that a transfer of sovereignty could increase opportunities for foreign intelligence activity near the base.
Ben Judah told The Telegraph earlier this year that Diego Garcia contains highly sensitive infrastructure central to Britain’s global military capabilities.
Under Britain’s current proposal, sovereignty over the islands would transfer to Mauritius while Britain would lease Diego Garcia back for 99 years to preserve military access.
President Trump initially appeared supportive of Britain’s arrangement but later publicly criticized the proposal, describing the transfer as a mistake and questioning London’s handling of the territory’s future. Britain cannot finalize the agreement without U.S. cooperation because of longstanding bilateral arrangements governing operations at Diego Garcia.
Mauritius has spent years challenging British control of the islands through international courts and diplomatic channels. British officials have argued that legal and diplomatic pressure have increased the need for a negotiated settlement.