US weighs buying Chagos from Mauritius to keep Diego Garcia

The White House is weighing a plan to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius to retain control of Diego Garcia, the joint US-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, The Telegraph reported. Reuters wrote that the proposal is among options being drawn up by Washington after the British government in April delayed a deal to transfer sovereignty over Chagos to Mauritius. A US official said Donald Trump has consistently opposed Britain "giving away" the British Indian Ocean Territory because Diego Garcia is seen as vital to US national security. The British government called the base a key strategic asset for both countries and said the deal with Mauritius was intended to preserve long-term operational control of Diego Garcia.