Overview
- In early June, media reports based on a Telegraph scoop said the White House included a purchase of the Chagos Islands in a paper of internal options to keep Diego Garcia available to U.S. forces, and the idea was reportedly raised with finance chief Scott Bessent.
- Mauritius issued an official denial that any formal U.S. approach took place and said its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is not for sale, rejecting the notion of a bilateral purchase.
- The proposed purchase is described in reporting as one contingency among others rather than a public policy offer, and U.S. officials say they remain in regular contact with Britain as they work to preserve the base’s operational capability.
- London’s 2025 plan to return the islands to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia back for decades has been paused after U.S. objections and legal disputes, leaving the transfer process stalled and subject to ongoing international litigation.
- Displaced Chagossian communities continue to press for return and rights, and any outcome will have to reconcile their claims, pending legal rulings and the strategic concerns—including Iran-related operations and fears of maritime espionage—that drive U.S. interest.