Why is it in the news?
→ UK defended agreement to transfer Chagos archipelago to Mauritius while leasing Diego Garcia.
→ Issue resurfaced after criticism over handling of the deal.
Category
IR
Important Points
- Chagos Archipelago comprises 58 islands in the Indian Ocean, ~500 km south of Maldives.
- Diego Garcia is the largest island; joint UK–US military base.
- France colonised Mauritius and Chagos in 1715; ceded to Britain under 1814 Treaty of Paris.
- UK detached Chagos from Mauritius in 1965 to form BIOT; Mauritius received a £3 million grant.
- Under the 1966 agreement, the US gained military access; Diego Garcia became operational by 1986. Base used in Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and post-9/11 operations.
- ICJ advisory opinion (2019) declared UK detachment unlawful.
- In 2024, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius with a 99-year lease for Diego Garcia.