The White House is considering a proposal to purchase the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, according to a report by The Telegraph and CNBC Africa, as Washington explores options to secure long-term control of the strategically important Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. The reported plan would allow the United States to negotiate directly with Mauritius rather than rely on the United Kingdom’s previously proposed sovereignty transfer arrangement.
The proposal emerges amid ongoing debate over the future of the Chagos archipelago, a British-controlled territory that the UK had planned to transfer to Mauritius while maintaining a long-term lease over Diego Garcia, home to a joint U.S.-UK military installation. Britain paused the sovereignty transfer process earlier this year following concerns raised by U.S. officials and criticism from President Donald Trump, who described the arrangement as a “big mistake.” that Washington remains in regular discussions with London to preserve its long-term operational viability.
While no formal U.S. offer has been announced, analysts say the discussions highlight the growing strategic significance of the Indian Ocean as global powers compete for influence across key maritime routes and military corridors. Any move to acquire the islands would likely trigger complex diplomatic negotiations involving the United States, the United Kingdom, Mauritius, and international stakeholders.
