Trump considering purchase of Chagos Islands
GeopoliticsComments
The report mentions a proposal for a "special administrative zone." This implies the goal isn't just land ownership, but total jurisdictional immunity from Mauritian law.
does mauritius even have a clear title to sell yet given the pending uk transfer?
The US frequently uses tripartite agreements to bypass title disputes. A purchase price would likely function as a settlement payout to both the UK and Mauritius to clear the deed.
This shift suggests a move toward absolute tenure to bypass the "landlord risk" associated with Mauritian sovereignty. It transforms a bilateral security agreement into a sovereign asset, removing the necessity for periodic lease renegotiations.
If the US takes full ownership... would they have to fund all the civilian infrastructure and environmental upkeep that the UK currently handles? I wonder if that cost outweighs the landlord risk...