Context
Recently, the United Kingdom and the United States have faced heightened security concerns regarding the Diego Garcia military base following reports of unsuccessful missile strikes targeted at the facility amidst escalating regional tensions in the Middle East.
1. Geographical Location
- Archipelago: It is the largest landmass in the Chagos Archipelago, which consists of 58 individual tropical islands.
- Coordinates: Situated approximately 7° South of the Equator in the central Indian Ocean.
- Proximity: It lies about 1,800 km southwest of India (Kanyakumari) and roughly 1,200 km south of the Maldives.
- Physical Feature: It is a horseshoe-shaped coral atoll with a large, deep natural lagoon that provides excellent anchorage for naval vessels.
2. Historical Background and Sovereignty Dispute
- Colonial Era: Originally explored by the Portuguese, the islands were later settled by the French and eventually ceded to the United Kingdom under the Treaty of Paris (1814).
- Separation from Mauritius: In 1965, three years before Mauritius gained independence, the UK detached the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
- Expulsion of Inhabitants: Between 1967 and 1973, the UK forcibly evicted the indigenous Chagossian population (also known as Îlois) to Seychelles and Mauritius to facilitate the construction of the US military base.
3. The 2025 Sovereignty Deal
- Recognition of Sovereignty: Under the landmark treaty signed in May 2025, the UK acknowledged Mauritius as the sovereign authority over the entire Chagos Archipelago.
- Lease Agreement: A critical caveat of the deal is that Diego Garcia remains under the administrative control of the UK for an initial period of 99 years to ensure the continued operation of the joint military base.
- Resettlement: The treaty allows Mauritius to implement a resettlement program on the “outer islands” of the archipelago, though resettlement on Diego Garcia itself remains restricted due to military requirements.
4. Strategic and Military Significance
- Power Projection: Often called an “unsinkable aircraft carrier,” the base allows the US to project power across the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and East Africa.
- Operational History: It served as a vital launchpad for operations during the Gulf War (1991), the war in Afghanistan (2001), and the Iraq War (2003).
- Facilities: It hosts a 3,700-meter runway capable of supporting long-range bombers (like B-52s and B-2 Stealth bombers) and a deep-water port for nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers.
5. International Legal Perspective
- ICJ Advisory Opinion (2019): The International Court of Justice ruled that the decolonization of Mauritius was not lawfully completed and that the UK is under an obligation to end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago.
- UN General Assembly (2019): Passed a resolution demanding the UK withdraw its colonial administration, affirming the ICJ’s stance.
- ITLOS Ruling (2021): The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea also upheld Mauritius’ claim to the archipelago.
Q. With reference to the Chagos Archipelago, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1. The archipelago is located to the north of the Equator in the Western Indian Ocean.
2. Under the 2025 agreement, the UK has recognized the sovereignty of Mauritius over Diego Garcia.
3. The indigenous population of the Chagos Islands is primarily of French-Polynesian descent.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
Solution:
• STATEMENT 1 IS INCORRECT: The Chagos Archipelago is located at approximately 7° South of the Equator, placing it in the Southern Hemisphere, not north of the Equator. It is situated in the Central Indian Ocean.
• STATEMENT 2 IS CORRECT: In the May 2025 treaty, the United Kingdom formally recognized the sovereignty of Mauritius over the entire Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, while retaining a 99-year lease for the military base.
• STATEMENT 3 IS INCORRECT: The indigenous population, known as the Chagossians or Îlois, are primarily of African and Indian descent, many being descendants of enslaved workers brought to the islands during French and British colonial rule.
