US Eyes Chagos, Bypassing UK

US Considers Bypassing UK to Purchase Chagos Islands, Securing Diego Garcia Base Amid Tensions

The White House is reportedly considering plans to acquire the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in a way that would bypass the UK, potentially derailing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s stalled effort to transfer sovereignty of the territory. Multiple reports say U.S. officials have discussed negotiating their own arrangement to secure independent control of Diego Garcia, the strategically vital joint UK-U.S. military base, amid heightened concerns about Iran and China. The proposal has been raised with British officials and features in internal U.S. planning alternatives, though Reuters has said the White House has not commented and could not verify the underlying document. Britain has continued negotiations with the U.S. over the long-term management of the base, even as the sovereignty process has faced political and diplomatic complications. U.S. officials and allies of the idea reportedly argue that keeping the surrounding waters and access tightly controlled is necessary to prevent security risks such as espionage by sea and to preserve Diego Garcia’s operational role for long-range missions. Details including price have not been disclosed, and any purchase would likely depend on how the sovereignty dispute evolves between the UK and Mauritius.

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