Key Takeaways
- The United States is exploring a direct purchase of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius to retain control of the strategic Diego Garcia military base.
- The UK separated the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, expelled the indigenous Chagossian population between 1967‑1973, and later apologized for the forced removals.
- A 2025 UK‑Mauritius agreement would return sovereignty to Mauritius while allowing the US‑UK base on Diego Garcia to operate for 99 years, extendable by another 40 years, with annual payments totaling ≈ £3.4 billion and a £40 million trust fund for Chagossians.
- The deal does not guarantee a right of return for Chagossians, and Mauritian termination rights are limited to UK non‑payment or aggression.
- After criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, the UK paused the transfer plan in April 2025, leaving the future of the islands uncertain.
United States Considers Direct Purchase of the Chagos Islands
Recent reports indicate that U.S. officials are evaluating a proposal to buy the Chagos Islands outright from Mauritius rather than negotiating through the United Kingdom. The primary motivation behind this approach is to secure uninterrupted control of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago, which hosts a critical joint U.S.–UK military installation. By dealing directly with Mauritius, the United States hopes to bypass any potential diplomatic complications that could arise from UK involvement and to ensure that the base remains available for its global operations across the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.
Historical Separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius
The United Kingdom has administered the Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, since 1814. In 1965, while Mauritius was still a British colony, the UK detached the Chagos archipelago from Mauritian territory and purchased it for £3 million. Mauritius has long argued that this separation was illegitimate, claiming it occurred under duress and without the consent of the Mauritian people. When Mauritius gained independence in 1968, it continued to assert sovereignty over the islands, maintaining that they were wrongfully taken away prior to its self‑determination.
Forced Removal of the Chagossian Population
Between 1967 and 1973, the British government carried out a systematic expulsion of the islands’ inhabitants to make way for a military base on Diego Garcia. Roughly 2,000 Chagossians were removed from their homes, transported on ships to Mauritius and the Seychelles, and often arrived without adequate housing, financial compensation, or proper documentation. British officials at the time dismissed the residents as transient laborers, referring to them disparagingly as a few “Tarzans of Man Fridays.” The upheaval devastated the community’s livelihoods and social fabric, leaving many families impoverished and displaced for generations.
Cultural Heritage of the Chagossians
Prior to their removal, the Chagos Islands had been settled for centuries after the Dutch and French brought enslaved Africans and Malagasy people to work on coconut plantations. Over time, these peoples and their descendants forged a distinct Creole culture, complete with a unique language, cuisine, music, and communal traditions known collectively as the Chagossian heritage. The forced displacement interrupted the transmission of this culture, but many Chagossians have continued to preserve their identity in exile, advocating for recognition of their historical ties to the islands and seeking redress for the injustices they suffered.
Terms of the UK‑Mauritius Agreement on Diego Garcia
In 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius reached a tentative agreement concerning the Chagos Islands. Under the deal, the UK would retain the right to operate the joint U.S.–UK military base on Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years, with the option to extend the arrangement by another 40 years if both parties consent, and further extensions possible thereafter. Should the agreement lapse after the first 99‑year term, the UK would retain a first‑right‑of‑refusal to use the base for the next 40 years should Mauritius decide to offer it to a third country. Mauritius may terminate the agreement only if the UK fails to make the stipulated annual payments or if the UK commits an act of aggression against Mauritius.
Financial Compensation and the Chagossian Trust Fund
As part of the settlement, the UK pledged to pay Mauritius an annual fee for the use of Diego Garcia, amounting to roughly £3.4 billion over the 99‑year period. Additionally, the agreement establishes a £40 million trust fund intended to benefit the Chagossian community, earmarked for social, educational, and developmental projects. Notably, the text of the accord does not explicitly guarantee that Chagossians will be permitted to resettle on the islands, leaving the question of a right of return unresolved and a source of ongoing contention among advocacy groups.
U.S. Opposition and the Pause in the Transfer Process
The proposed transfer of sovereignty from the UK to Mauritius drew criticism from several U.S. leaders, most notably former President Donald Trump, who argued that relinquishing control could jeopardize American strategic interests in the Indian Ocean. In response to this pushback, the UK government announced in April 2025 that it would temporarily halt the implementation of the transfer plan while it reviews the geopolitical implications. The pause reflects the delicate balance between honoring historical claims, addressing human‑rights concerns, and maintaining the operational viability of the Diego Garcia base.
Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia’s location—roughly midway between Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia—makes it an invaluable hub for power projection, logistics, and intelligence gathering. The base supports a wide range of missions, including bomber deployments, naval operations, satellite communications, and humanitarian assistance. Because of its runway length and deep‑water anchorage, the island can accommodate heavy aircraft and large vessels, enabling the United States and its allies to sustain a persistent presence across a vast theater without relying on nearby host nations that may impose political constraints.
Implications for Mauritian Sovereignty and International Law
Mauritius’s persistent claim to the Chagos Islands is grounded in arguments of decolonization and territorial integrity, bolstered by advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice and resolutions from the United Nations General Assembly that have deemed the UK’s continued administration unlawful. If Mauritius were to regain full sovereignty, it would need to navigate complex security arrangements to ensure that the Diego Garcia base remains functional while respecting Mauritian legal authority. The outcome could set a precedent for how former colonial powers address disputed territories in the post‑colonial era, influencing similar disputes worldwide.
Future Prospects for the Chagossian Community
Although the financial compensation and trust fund included in the UK‑Mauritius deal aim to alleviate some of the socioeconomic hardships faced by the Chagossians, the lack of a clear right of return remains a major grievance. Advocacy groups continue to lobby for legislation that would allow displaced Chagossians and their descendants to resettle on the islands, restore their cultural sites, and receive formal acknowledgment of the historical injustice. The resolution of this issue will likely depend on the interplay between diplomatic negotiations, domestic politics in both the UK and Mauritius, and the evolving strategic calculations of the United States regarding its overseas military footprint.