Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
John Bowden

Trump ‘could buy the Chagos Islands’ after row with Starmer

  • The White House is reportedly considering a plan for the U.S. to purchase the Chagos Islands , following the president's unsuccessful attempt to acquire Greenland .
  • This alleged plan emerges amidst delays in U.K. legislation to cede the territory to Mauritius, a move the president previously criticised as 'an act of GREAT STUPIDITY'.
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly presented the idea of buying the islands, which include the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base, to the president.
  • A U.S. official stated that the administration believes it would be a mistake for the U.K. to relinquish the British Indian Ocean Territory, emphasising Diego Garcia's indispensable military importance.
  • The president's foreign policy has recently focused on territorial acquisitions, with the Chagos Islands, like Greenland, viewed as a crucial military asset due to existing U.S. military bases.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.