The White House is reportedly considering a plan that would see the U.S. make a deal to purchase the Chagos Islands after President Donald Trump’s ambitions of seeing the U.S. take control of Greenland ended in failure.
The president has repeatedly threatened to seize or annex several nations and territories, including Canada and Venezuela, which he has potentially claimed as 51st states. He has also delivered similar threats to Panama and Cuba, with U.S. naval vessels building up forces throughout the Caribbean.
His latest alleged plan follows delays in U.K. legislation that would complete the country’s cessation of the territory to the east African nation Mauritius after withdrawal of U.S. support in January. Trump called the treaty organizing the cessation of territory “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY” at the time.
The Telegraph reports that a plan to buy the territory, placing it directly under U.S. control, is among the options being presented to Trump as he makes a decision on further steps for the Chagos Islands.
The U.K. has controlled the islands since 1814. A joint U.S.-U.K. military base, Diego Garcia, is present on the islands and under Starmer’s plan would remain under joint control of the two nations.
Multiple sources familiar with the matter told the news outlet that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent directly raised the idea with the president, though it was reportedly not Trump’s “leading” option at this time. The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump and Starmer have clashed over what the U.S. president views as Europe and Nato’s insufficient support for his war with Iran. His goal of purchasing or assuming control of Greenland was another point of conflict between the president and European leaders including Starmer, and the mountain of resistance he encountered from other Nato countries eventually led the president to back down from those aims. Like the Chagos Islands, Greenland is viewed as a strategic military asset due to the location of a U.S. base.
This is a breaking news report. More to follow…
More details here...
