US Endorses Chagos Sovereignty Transfer Securing Strategic Diego Garcia Base

2026-02-19 politics

Washington, Wednesday, 18 February 2026.
Reversing earlier criticism, the US administration formally backs the UK’s transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, securing a vital 99-year lease for the strategic Diego Garcia military outpost.

A Strategic Pivot in the Indian Ocean

In a decisive shift regarding Indo-Pacific security, the Trump administration has officially thrown its support behind the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. This diplomatic endorsement, confirmed by the State Department this week, prioritizes the long-term security of the Diego Garcia military base through a 99-year leaseback arrangement [1][2]. The move represents a significant pivot from President Trump’s rhetoric in January 2026, when he characterized the initial plan as “an act of great stupidity” and “total weakness” [2][5]. However, the administration has since softened its stance, with the President recently acknowledging the deal as the “best” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer could negotiate, provided US military interests remain uncompromised [4].

Securing the Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier

The crux of American support hinges on the continued, guaranteed use of Diego Garcia, a facility often described as indispensable to US power projection. Located centrally in the Indian Ocean, the base is equidistant from East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, serving as a staging ground for deep-strike missions utilizing B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit bombers [2]. The agreement ensures that while Mauritius assumes sovereignty over the wider archipelago, the UK retains authority over Diego Garcia for an initial 99-year period, with an option to extend for another 40 years [2]. Financially, the deal is substantial; the UK is committed to paying Mauritius approximately $135 million annually to lease the base [2], part of a broader financial package valued at £3.4 billion ($4.6 billion) signed in May 2025 [1]. The United States will continue to fund the base’s operational upkeep [2].

Diplomatic and Operational Next Steps

With the sovereignty framework agreed upon, the focus shifts to operational specifics. High-level security talks are scheduled to take place in Port Louis, Mauritius, from February 23 to 25, 2026 [3]. A delegation led by the US State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs will meet with Mauritian counterparts to finalize “effective implementation of security arrangements” [1][3]. These discussions are critical for codifying the protocols that will govern the base’s future. President Trump has issued a stern caveat regarding these negotiations, stating on Truth Social that if the lease deal ever dissolves or if US operations are threatened, he retains the right to “Militarily secure and reinforce the American presence in Diego Garcia” [4].

Resistance on the Atolls

While Washington and London solidify the geopolitical landscape, the agreement faces direct challenges from the displaced Chagossian community. On February 16, 2026, a group of four Chagossians landed on Île du Coin in the Peros Banhos atoll, asserting their right to return and attempting to establish a permanent settlement [4]. This act of defiance complicates the narrative of a smooth transfer, highlighting the historical grievances of islanders forcibly expelled by the UK between 1967 and 1973 to facilitate the base’s construction [7]. While the UK Foreign Office has dismissed the landing as a “stunt” that poses no security risk to Diego Garcia, the settlers have signaled that more arrivals are anticipated in the coming week [4].

Sources

Geopolitics Defense