The White House is considering a proposal to purchase the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in an effort to secure long-term control over Diego Garcia, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
According to the report, U.S. officials have drafted an option that would allow Washington to bypass Britain and strike its own agreement with Mauritius over the Indian Ocean archipelago, which is home to the strategically important U.S.-British military base on Diego Garcia.
Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report. The UK Foreign Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The proposal is one of several options being prepared by the White House as an alternative to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, the Telegraph said.
A U.S. official told Reuters that President Donald Trump has consistently opposed Britain handing over the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes the joint U.S.-UK military facility on Diego Garcia.
“Diego Garcia’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a vital and indispensable military installation of significant importance to the national security of the United States,” the official said.
The official added that Washington remains in regular talks with London aimed at preserving Diego Garcia’s role as a regional security platform.
Britain’s government in April paused its agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The deal had drawn criticism from Trump, who said in February that it was a “big mistake.”
Diego Garcia has long been a key U.S. and British military hub in the Indian Ocean, supporting operations across the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.