The United States is reportedly considering buying the Chagos Islands, a move which would humiliate Sir Keir Starmer. The Prime Minister wants to cede the vital islands to the ally of China and Iran. The deal to do so was paused indefinitely in April after President Donald Trump withdrew his support for the proposal. The deal would have seen Britain pay an average of £101million per year to lease back the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, the archipelago's largest island.

Now, it has been reported that American officials have drawn up a plan to make its own deal to take control of the base, bypassing the UK. It is believed to be one of several possible actions drafted by the White House in a document aimed at providing alternatives to Sir Keir's plan. Mr Trump previously posted on his Truth Social platform: "Shockingly, our 'brilliant' NATO Ally, the United Kingdom, is currently planning to give away the Island of Diego Garcia, the site of a vital U.S. Military Base, to Mauritius, and to do so FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

"There is no doubt that China and Russia have noticed this act of total weakness."

He added: "The UK giving away extremely important land is an act of GREAT STUPIDITY, and is another in a very long line of National Security reasons why Greenland has to be acquired."

"We remain in regular discussions with our British allies as we work together to preserve the viability of Diego Garcia as a regional security platform," a US official told the Telegraph.

They told the Sun: “While it wouldn’t be the first course of action if things get bogged down and frustration rises, the White House definitely doesn’t see it as impossible.”

Foreign Office Minister Hamish Falconer previously said: “I can’t see an option where the President buys the island.

“We’re committed to the deal that we have struck. It is one that we’ve done in close confrontation with our allies.”