US Weighs Buying Chagos Islands from Mauritius, Sidestepping UK
Quick Look
The US considers purchasing the Chagos Islands directly from Mauritius to secure control of the Diego Garcia military base, bypassing the UK amid a sovereignty dispute.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Chagos Islands sovereignty dispute stems from the UK's 1965 separation, deemed unlawful by the ICJ in 2019.
The US is considering a plan to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, sidestepping the UK, to secure the Diego Garcia military base. The base, crucial for US operations in the Indian Ocean, hosts 2,500 personnel and supports bomber deployments and strikes. The UK currently controls the islands but faces a sovereignty dispute after the International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that the UK’s 1965 separation of the islands from Mauritius was unlawful.
The UK had planned to hand the islands back to Mauritius while retaining a 99-year lease for the base, but the deal was put on hold after US President Donald Trump opposed it, calling it a threat to national security. The new US plan, reported by The Telegraph, involves buying the islands directly from Mauritius after the UK transfers ownership. This would make the UK a bystander.
The Mauritian government stated it has not received an official proposal but considers its sovereignty non-negotiable. The move reflects growing US assertiveness, following Trump’s interest in buying Greenland and comments on Canada, straining relations with allies.
The plan is among options discussed in the Trump administration, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent presenting it to Trump. If approved, the US would negotiate with Mauritius after the UK hands over the islands.
The development comes amid a complex geopolitical landscape, with the US seeking to maintain strategic military outposts while navigating alliances.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Mauritius may leverage the situation for better terms from either the US or the UK.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Mauritius accept the US proposal?
- How will the UK respond to being bypassed?
