The White House is reportedly weighing a proposal to purchase the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The report said US officials have drafted plans that could bypass Britain and allow Washington to directly take control of Diego Garcia, a strategically important military base in the Indian Ocean.
The proposal is said to be among several options being considered by the White House as an alternative to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Port Louis.
A US official was quoted as saying that President Donald Trump remains firm on the position, stressing the strategic importance of Diego Garcia as an irreplaceable military asset for US national security.
The Chagos Islands, which host a joint US–UK airbase on Diego Garcia, have long been a key strategic location for Western defence operations in the region.
In April, London reportedly paused its agreement to hand over sovereignty of the territory following criticism from Trump.
Diego Garcia has served as a critical military installation for both Britain and the United States for nearly six decades.
