Never content with just 50 states, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering buying the Chagos Islands from Mauritius.
The archipelago amounts to more than 60 islands and is a British Indian Ocean Territory—but it seems Trump would prefer to make it American instead.
The Chagos Islands, which contain the U.S.-U.K. Diego Garcia military base, are currently the subject of legislation to cede control to Mauritius. The relinquishing of sovereignty hasn’t yet passed due to opposition from the Trump administration.
According to The Telegraph, camp MAGA—driven by concern that Mauritius is an ally of China and Iran—plans to sidestep U.K. processes and seek a deal with Mauritius directly.
The outlet added that according to an insider, the White House has been in frequent discussions with Downing Street about the Chagos Islands, with the newest acquisition plan allegedly brought to Trump by Treasury Secretary Scott Besent.
Conveniently, the Diego Garcia military base is within easy striking distance of Iran, and reportedly contains top-secret and advanced warfare capabilities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has enraged Trump by blocking him from striking Iran from the base, initially planned to pay Mauritius around $46.7 billion for 99 years to lease the military base.
While the White House seemingly hasn’t put a financial offer on the table yet, Trump has made it very clear that he doesn’t want the Chagos Islands in Mauritian hands.
Taking to Truth Social back in January, he ranted: “Shockingly, our ‘brilliant’ NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.
“There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness,” he continued.
The president added: “The U.K. giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired.”
The Chagos Islands are the newest in a long list of territories Trump has eyed up as a future 51st state, including Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela.
