The Trump administration is weighing options to secure long-term control of the Chagos Islands, an Indian Ocean archipelago that includes the strategically important Diego Garcia base.
The reported idea would involve a direct US deal with Mauritius, bypassing the UK, at a time when British plans to transfer sovereignty of the territory remain stalled.
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🚨BOOM! Trump is considering a bold move to BUY the strategic Diego Garcia island instead of letting the UK hand it over to a China-Iran ally.
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 7, 2026
We have a critical military base there.
No more giving away American assets.
HT @EricLDaugh pic.twitter.com/3wAYfpZM6b
White House options under review
The proposal under discussion is part of several options being considered by the White House.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had put forward the latest proposal, which was then presented to President Donald Trump, though it was not believed to be the preferred option at this stage.
Diego Garcia, a joint UK-US military base, is around 3,800 kilometres from Iran and can support long-range military operations.
🇺🇸🇬🇧🇲🇺 The Trump administration is reportedly exploring the purchase of the Chagos Islands to secure long-term control over the strategic Diego Garcia military base.
— Asia Nexus (@nexusasian) June 8, 2026
The move could bypass Britain's plan to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
Diego Garcia hosts a… pic.twitter.com/5dxh3kOROe
Sovereignty talks hit fresh turbulence
The issue has become more sensitive after the UK paused its agreement to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in April, after Washington withdrew support for the deal, according to the Guardian.
The UK government said it inherited a situation in which control of Diego Garcia was under threat. A government spokesperson said: “The Government inherited a situation where UK control over the military base on Diego Garcia was under threat and action was required to protect UK national interests and to prevent our adversaries from getting a foothold in a location of such strategic importance.”
Port Louis stands its ground
Mauritius has said it has not received any formal proposal from the Trump administration.
The Mauritian government said it had “not received any official proposal and has not been approached, either directly or indirectly, by the US administration regarding a separate agreement concerning Diego Garcia or the Chagos Archipelago.”
It added: “Mauritius’s position remains unchanged: its sovereignty over the Chagos (Archipelago) is non-negotiable.” The country has said it will wait until the end of July for Britain to resolve the matter before deciding its next move.
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History returns to the table
The Chagos Islands have long been at the centre of a sovereignty dispute between Mauritius and the UK.
The archipelago was once part of Mauritius under French rule before both territories were handed to Britain in the 19th century, and Mauritius has claimed the islands since its independence in 1968.
The strategic value of Diego Garcia, which hosts a major US-UK military facility in the Indian Ocean, has kept the dispute politically and militarily sensitive for decades.
FAQs
Q1: Why are the Chagos Islands strategically important?
A: The archipelago hosts the Diego Garcia base, a key UK-US military facility in the Indian Ocean.
Q2: Has Mauritius received a formal US proposal to buy the Chagos Islands?
A: No, Mauritius says it has not received any official proposal from the Trump administration.
