Donald Trump is reportedly considering making a bid to acquire the Chagos Islands after abandoning his unsuccessful attempt to buy Greenland. The archipelago, under British control and situated in the Indian Ocean, has been a point of contention between the UK and Mauritius. Earlier this year, a sovereignty transfer deal was halted when the US withdrew its support, particularly due to the presence of Diego Garcia, a top-secret UK-US military base facing strategic threats from China.
In light of the stalled Greenland deal, Trump is now exploring the possibility of purchasing Chagos for the US. This potential move would involve bypassing the UK entirely. Proposed plans, reportedly developed by the White House and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, include declaring the islands as a sovereign entity separate from the British Indian Ocean Territory. This maneuver aims to enable direct negotiations for the purchase with Mauritius.
Concerns among US officials revolve around the potential security risks if Mauritius gains control of the archipelago, leading to fears of maritime espionage and jeopardizing the Diego Garcia base’s safety.
However, it remains uncertain whether Mauritius, whose sovereignty over the islands has been internationally recognized, would entertain an American offer. Previously, Mauritius had leased the islands to Britain for 99 years before the US backed out of the agreement. Estimates suggest that an outright purchase of the territory could cost approximately $20 billion (£15 billion).
The geopolitical significance of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands is underscored by mounting worries about Chinese and Iranian influence in the Indian Ocean. Recent incidents, including ballistic missile attacks from Tehran, have heightened security concerns. In a missile confrontation in March, one missile failed mid-flight and crashed, while another was successfully intercepted by a US warship’s SM-3 interceptor.
The importance of Diego Garcia and the Chagos Islands in British strategic planning was highlighted by Ben Judah, a former special advisor to David Lammy. Judah emphasized the critical role of Diego Garcia’s secretive facilities, integral to Britain’s global operations.
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