Trump reportedly considers buying Chagos Islands from Mauritius

Donald Trump is reportedly exploring a plan to purchase the Chagos Islands directly from Mauritius, a move that would circumvent the United Kingdom's involvement in the territory's sovereignty. The potential acquisition aims to secure the strategic U.S. military base on Diego Garcia.

The White House has not commented on the report, which suggests the Trump administration would negotiate with Mauritius, bypassing British officials. For this to occur, the islands would first need to be granted sovereignty, allowing for direct negotiations. This proposal comes after previous legislation to transfer the islands to Mauritius was halted in April when the U.S. withdrew its support.

According to reports, the plan was put forward by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, though it is not considered a leading option. Some officials have expressed concerns about the potential for espionage if the islands are transferred to Mauritius, which they view as an ally of China.

The discussions surrounding the potential purchase of the Chagos Islands occur amidst the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. The Diego Garcia base, situated in the central Indian Ocean, is approximately 3,800 kilometers from Iran and houses an airbase capable of supporting U.S. long-range missiles. Iran has launched multiple strikes toward the base since the conflict began, with one in late March being intercepted by a U.S. warship. In March, the UK permitted the U.S. to launch missiles targeting Iranian missile launchers from the base.