Trump Suddenly Considering Purchase of Strategic British Island, China Involvement Implicated
US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering options to purchase the Chagos Islands from Mauritius. This move emerges amidst uncertainty regarding the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the strategic territory to Mauritius, particularly due to the presence of the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia.
According to a report by the Telegraph, the proposal would allow Washington to secure long-term control over Diego Garcia, which has long been one of the most vital military assets for both the US and the UK. However, the White House has not yet provided an official response regarding the report.
Sources cited by the Telegraph suggest that the discussed scheme would involve the US negotiating directly with Mauritius to purchase the territory. “We have always been clear that we will not proceed without US support,” said a British government source regarding the plan to transfer Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius, as quoted by The Guardian on Monday.
The report mentions that the purchase plan is one of several options being considered by the Trump administration. The latest proposal is said to have been submitted by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Trump, although it is not yet the primary choice.
Several US officials are reportedly concerned that if the Chagos Islands fall entirely under Mauritian control, Mauritius’s relationship with China could open opportunities for intelligence or espionage activities that potentially threaten the security of the Diego Garcia base.
Meanwhile, Chagos refugee groups visiting the UK last week urged the British government to resolve the dispute over the islands’ status immediately. They argue that the interests of the indigenous Chagos people are often neglected in the political tug-of-war.
Debates regarding the future of the Chagos Islands are also occurring amidst rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia is approximately 3,800 kilometres from Iran and possesses military facilities capable of supporting long-range US missile operations.
Since the US-Israel war against Iran broke out in late February, the base has become a strategic point for Western military operations. Iran has even been reported to have launched several attacks against the joint facilities, though most were intercepted by US defence systems.
Last March, the UK also granted permission to the US to launch missiles from Diego Garcia to strike Iranian missile launchers, a decision that drew criticism from Tehran. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that the decision could drag the UK further into the conflict, accusing London of “endangering the lives of British citizens by allowing a British base to be used for aggression against Iran.”
The British government maintains that preserving the operational status of Diego Garcia is a primary strategic interest for both London and Washington. A UK government spokesperson stated that the base has been a pillar of mutual security for nearly 60 years.
According to the British government, the agreement with Mauritius is designed to ensure that long-term operational and security control of the base is maintained, preventing parties deemed a threat from gaining a foothold in such a highly strategic location.