U.S. backs Britain’s Chagos Islands deal, will talk with Mauritius over Diego Garcia base

The Trump administration is backing Britain’s plan to turn over sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while leasing back Diego Garcia, a critical military base in the Indo-Pacific region.

Next week, the U.S. and Mauritius will hold security discussions, with the U.S. delegation led by the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.

“These discussions underscore the continued importance of the Chagos archipelago and the joint U.S.-U.K. base on Diego Garcia to our national security,” State Department officials said. “The discussions will focus on bilateral security cooperation and effective implementation of security arrangements for the base to ensure its long-term, secure operation.”

Located in the center of the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia is arguably America’s most strategically vital military outpost. It is nearly equidistant from Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, making it a near-perfect staging area for deep-strike missions.

The base is often used for positioning B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit bombers to project power in the region. It also boasts a port deep enough to support nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines.

The U.S. this week signed off on Britain’s decision to go ahead with its agreement with Mauritius concerning the Chagos archipelago. The change of heart comes after President Trump earlier this year called the deal “an act of great stupidity” and “total weakness.”

“The United States reiterates its desire to conclude a bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom to guarantee continued use of basing and other facilities in the Chagos archipelago to advance U.S. national security, as well as security and stability across the Indian Ocean,” the State Department said.

While Mauritius will become the legal owner of the island, its treaty with the U.K. creates a special carve-out for Diego Garcia. The British will be granted an initial 99-year lease to manage the base, which can be extended 40 more years and potentially longer afterward.

The financial deal exclusively between the U.K. and Mauritius is significant. The Brits will pay the country that’s off the coast of East Africa about $135 million per year to lease Diego Garcia.

The U.S. will continue paying for the base’s upkeep.