The White House is considering a proposal to buy the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, according to a report by The Telegraph published on Sunday. The move is being explored as part of efforts to maintain control over Diego Garcia, a strategically important military base jointly operated by the United States and the United Kingdom in the Indian Ocean.

The report stated that U.S. officials have prepared a proposal that would allow Washington to negotiate directly with Mauritius, bypassing the United Kingdom. The plan is one of several options being examined by the White House. It is intended to offer alternatives to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s proposal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report independently. The UK Foreign Office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the matter.

The future of the Chagos Islands has become a subject of debate due to the presence of the Diego Garcia military facility. The base is considered a key strategic asset for security operations in the Indian Ocean region.

A U.S. official told Reuters, "President Trump has been consistent in his position that the United Kingdom should not give away the British Indian Ocean Territory, which includes our joint U.S.-UK military facility on the Diego Garcia atoll."

The official further said, "Diego Garcia’s strategic location in the Indian Ocean makes it a vital and indispensable military installation of significant importance to the national security of the United States."

The official added that the United States remains in regular discussions with Britain to ensure the long-term viability of the island as a regional security platform.

Britain had paused its agreement in April to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The proposed deal has faced criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly opposed the move. In February, Trump described the agreement as a "big mistake."