Why Chagos Islands matter?

Why in the News?

British Foreign Minister announced that the deal with Mauritius has settled the long-standing dispute over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, the UK’s last overseas territory in Africa.
- The agreement also ensures the long-term future of the Diego Garcia military base, which is jointly operated by the UK and US.

The Chagos Archipelago is a group of 58 islands located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 500 km south of the Maldives.
It is a strategically significant area, with one of its islands, Diego Garcia, serving as a key military base jointly operated by the UK and US.
The archipelago has been at the centre of a decades-long sovereignty dispute between the UK and Mauritius.

The UK established the BIOT, incorporating the Chagos Archipelago.
The islands were detached from Mauritius before its independence.
Mauritius received a grant of 3 million pounds from the UK as compensation for the detachment.

Britain and the US signed a defense agreement, making the BIOT available for joint military purposes.
Diego Garcia became a key military outpost due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean.
The land for the military base was acquired in 1967, and in 1971, the plantation on Diego Garcia was shut down.
The BIOT administration passed an Immigration Ordinance, which prohibited residents from remaining on the island without a permit. This led to the forced expulsion of around 2,000 Chagossians, many of whom were resettled in Mauritius and the UK.

2017: The UN General Assembly requested the ICJ to issue an advisory opinion on the legal status of the Chagos Islands.
2019: The ICJ ruled that the UK’s continued administration of the islands was illegal, and the detachment of the islands from Mauritius in 1965 was not done with the free consent of the Chagossians. The UNGA adopted a resolution calling on the UK to withdraw from the Chagos Archipelago within six months.

After years of dispute, Mauritius and the UK reached an agreement over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
Under this agreement:
- The UK has ceded its claims over the islands.
- Mauritius is allowed to implement a resettlement program on the islands, excluding Diego Garcia.
- The UK retains sovereignty over Diego Garcia, allowing the military base to remain operational for an initial period of 99 years.
- A new trust fund is being created for the benefit of Chagossians.

US-UK Defense Agreement: The base is vital for joint military operations, allowing rapid deployment in critical areas.
Global Operations Hub: Key for US air and naval missions during conflicts like the Gulf War and War in Afghanistan.
Geopolitical Control: Ensures a strong US-UK presence in the Indian Ocean to counteract other powers, especially China.
Strategic Location: Diego Garcia monitors the Malacca Strait and other essential global trade routes, especially energy supplies.

[2013] Discuss the political developments in Maldives in the last two years. Should they be of any cause of concern to India?