Donald Trump is reportedly planning to buy the Chagos Islands in the latest blow to Sir Keir Starmer's controversial plans to hand them to Mauritius. The deal, which the President has not confirmed, would reportedly see the United States taking direct ownership of the archipelago, which hosts the Diego Garcia military base.
Trump's Territorial Ambitions
This follows several attempts by the White House to expand US territory, including threats to take control of Greenland, Canada, and Venezuela. Mr Trump has also threatened Panama and Cuba, and mounted airstrikes in Iran that plunged the region into war and sent global oil prices fluctuating.
The 79-year-old Republican, serving his second term, was reported by the Daily Telegraph to be planning to buy the cluster of islands. It is one of several options presented to Mr Trump as he considers ways to bring the key base under US control.
UK and US Perspectives
UK officials described the base as a "key strategic military asset for both the UK and the US" as a government spokesman defended the deal with Mauritius. "Maintaining long-term operational control and security of Diego Garcia is the entire basis for the UK-Mauritius Agreement," a spokesman said, adding that the agreement was "borne out of the real long-term risks to the base of which both the UK and US are very well aware."
Mr Trump has been deeply critical of the deal and called it "an act of GREAT STUPIDITY" in January when his government withdrew support. Several sources quoted in the Telegraph revealed that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had raised the issue with Mr Trump, but added that it was not his "leading" option. The United States is reported to consider the base a "vital and indispensable military installation of significant importance" to their national security, according to the Independent.
