US considers possible purchase of Chagos Archipelago, report says

The White House is considering the possibility of purchasing the Chagos Archipelago, according to The Telegraph, citing sources and a US official familiar with the discussions.

The US administration has prepared a proposal that could allow Washington to pursue a separate agreement over control of the archipelago, the report added.

The Chagos Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, Diego Garcia, hosts a strategically important military base used by the United States and the United Kingdom. The Telegraph noted that its location enables long-range operations, including those involving strategic aviation assets.

The option is being considered as an alternative to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s plan to transfer sovereignty over Chagos to Mauritius, after which London would lease back the base for 99 years for approximately £35 billion ($46.7 billion).

According to The Telegraph, the purchase is not the primary scenario for the White House, but the idea has been discussed with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and brought to President Donald Trump.

US officials are concerned that transferring the archipelago to Mauritius—described by the newspaper as a partner of China and Iran—could pose security risks to Diego Garcia. The importance of the base has increased amid tensions with Iran and growing Chinese naval activity.

For such a scenario to materialise, Washington would first need to allow the UK–Mauritius deal to proceed and then negotiate directly with Mauritian authorities. In May, UK minister Hamish Falconer said there was no scenario involving a US purchase of the islands and reaffirmed London’s commitment to the agreement with Mauritius.

The US continues consultations with British allies on maintaining Diego Garcia as a regional security platform, according to a source cited by The Telegraph.

By Jeyhun Aghazada