In recent days, news spread that the United States intends to acquire the Chagoss Islands directly from Mauritius, bypassing Britain. The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on June 9 that a US official confirmed that the Trump administration is maintaining regular high-level consultations with Britain to ensure the long-term future of the strategic Diego Garcia military base.
This American official did not deny the existence of the acquisition plan. He described Diego Garcia, the main island of the Chagosses Islands, as a “military base that is crucial and indispensable to American national security.” He also stated that the U.S.-UK “ally” is regularly consulting with each other to work together towards maintaining the feasibility of this “regional security platform.”
Meanwhile, the official also reiterated that Trump has always been opposed to the UK’s “abandoning its British Indian Ocean territories,” as this includes the Diego Garcia military base used jointly by the US and the UK.
Reports indicate that this stance highlights America’s efforts to continue controlling key military bases, against the backdrop of intensifying geo-strategic competition in the Indian Ocean region. Trump supporters previously criticized the agreement under which Britain ceded sovereignty over Mauritius as a “gift to China”.
Last year, the British government reached an agreement with Mauritius to transfer the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the Diego Garcia base, but allowed Britain and the United States to continue using that military facility for a long time.
For a long time, Diego Garcia Base has been an important hub for military operations between the United States and the United Kingdom in the Indian Ocean and Middle East regions. It has provided support for US military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and counter-terrorism efforts. In recent years, as the US strategic focus has shifted to the Indo-Pacific region, this base has been seen as a key node for conducting long-range strikes, intelligence reconnaissance, logistical support, and military deployment. It also serves as an important base for the US to handle potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific, such as those related to the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. Diego Garcia Base on the Chagoss Islands – Photo
It is for this reason that the Trump administration is 'concerned' that once Britain completes the transfer of sovereignty, the US's control over this strategic location could be affected.
The British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported on July 7 that White House officials are drafting a plan to bypass the UK and reach an agreement with Mauritius to “acquire” the Chagos Islands, aiming to directly control the islands. Sources said that although “acquiring the islands” is not the White House’s preferred option, officials have proposed this plan to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Bisonet, who submitted it to Trump.
The newspaper pointed out that the Diego Garcia military base in the Chagos Islands is of great significance to the United States. It allows the US to include Iran within its combat reach, and US B-2 bombers can fly from this base to conduct air strikes on Tehran. Since Mauritius maintains good relations with China, US officials also mention the so-called “China threat,” claiming that Britain’s transfer of sovereignty over the islands could lead to an increase in “sea-based espionage activities.”
However, the Mauritian government issued a statement on the 8th, stating that it had not received any proposals from the Trump administration regarding the Chagos Islands. It also reiterated that “Mauritius has sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, and this position is non-negotiable.”
Regarding related issues, the Chinese Embassy in the United States stated to The South China Morning Post that China firmly supports the United Nations’ process of decolonization and fully understands and supports Mauritius’ legitimate demands regarding the completion of decolonization.
The sovereignty over the Chagoss Islands has been a long-standing historical issue. Located in the southwest Indian Ocean, the islands have been under British control since 1814. In 1965, as an condition for gaining independence, Britain forced Mauritius to separate the Chagoss Islands from its territory, creating what was called the "British Indian Ocean Territory." The following year, Britain leased the main island of Diogo Garcia to the United States for the construction of an airbase. Between 1967 and 1973, in order to make space for the base, the indigenous inhabitants of the Chagoss Islands were forcibly relocated from the islands.
The legal disputes regarding compensation for displaced residents and Mauritius's claims over sovereignty over the archipelago have persisted for decades. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that Britain’s occupation of the Chagos Archipelago violated international law, and that its jurisdiction over the archipelago should be ended.
In May last year, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement regarding the transfer of sovereignty over the Chagoss Islands. According to the agreement, the UK will pay approximately $4 billion to lease the Diego Garcia base and surrounding areas for at least 99 years, continuing to enjoy unrestricted military access and operational rights. UK Defense Secretary John Hilli stated at the time that allies such as the United States, India, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada supported the agreement, while countries like China, Russia, and Iran hoped for the agreement to fail.
It is worth noting that Trump initially described the agreement as “the best option available,” but later criticized it as “extremely foolish” and “completely weak.” He believed that Britain’s actions could pose serious strategic risks, and repeatedly used the close relationship between Mauritius and China as a argument against the agreement.
Subsequently, the UK suspended the approval process for the agreement until recently when The Daily Telegraph revealed that the United States was bypassing the UK and was in direct contact with the Mauritius government.
The Trump administration's actions have caused dissatisfaction among British media, which have openly stated that the US actions remind people of the history of the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the United States often spent money to purchase strategic assets.
In 1803, the United States purchased Louisiana from France, which nearly doubled the size of American territory in that region. This also secured control over the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans. In 1867, the United States purchased Alaska from Tsar Russia. This provided the United States with important military bases, rich natural resources, as well as access to the Arctic and the Pacific Ocean.
After returning to the White House, Trump has publicly stated several times his desire to purchase Greenland from Denmark. He has also claimed that the United States needs to regain control over the Panama Canal, and even advocated for Canada to become the United States' "51st state".
The newspaper pointed out that after the end of World War II in 1945, the practice of buying other countries’ territories with cash basically disappeared. The establishment of the United Nations made national borders more fixed and sovereign, and territory was no longer considered a commodity that could be traded through simple commercial transactions.
The article states that Trump seems to believe that most problems in the world can be solved like commercial transactions. As Trump continues to rewrite U.S. foreign policy, international consensus is being undermined, and the idea of purchasing the Chagoss islands could lead to the "end of modern diplomacy."
