U.S. Senator John Kennedy has issued a direct appeal to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to reconsider plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and instead sell the strategically vital territory to the United States. Kennedy warned that handing control to Mauritius would ultimately benefit China, citing the island nation’s deepening economic and political ties with Beijing.

In a public statement, Kennedy argued that the Chagos Islands, home to the Diego Garcia military base, represent one of the most important strategic assets in the world. He emphasized that the base plays a critical role in U.S. and allied military operations across the Indian Ocean, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, making long-term Western control essential to global security.

Kennedy pledged to sponsor legislation to ensure continued American control over the base, framing the issue as a matter of national security rather than diplomacy. He warned that transferring sovereignty, even with lease provisions, risks opening the door to future pressure, renegotiation, or foreign influence that could undermine U.S. and allied military freedom of action.

The remarks come amid renewed U.S. opposition in 2026 to the 2025 UK-Mauritius agreement, which includes a 99-year lease allowing continued U.S.-UK access to Diego Garcia. Critics of the deal, particularly within the Trump-aligned national security camp, argue that such arrangements are insufficient to guarantee long-term stability and deterrence, especially given China’s expanding footprint across the Indian Ocean region.

While the agreement received initial backing during the Biden administration, opponents now contend that relinquishing sovereignty weakens Western leverage and signals retreat at a time of intensifying great-power competition. Kennedy’s proposal to sell the islands outright to the United States reflects a broader push to secure permanent control over key strategic assets rather than rely on diplomatic assurances.

The debate over the Chagos Islands underscores growing concerns within U.S. defense circles that incremental concessions can carry lasting consequences. As geopolitical tensions rise, Kennedy’s message to London is clear: strategic territory should remain firmly in the hands of trusted allies, not placed at risk through deals that may benefit adversarial powers in the long run.