Chagos Islands

Chagos Islands: Recently, the United Kingdom signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, ending decades of colonial-era contention.

၀ The deal allows UK and US military operations to continue on Diego Garcia, the archipelago’s largest island, through a 99-year lease with an annual payment of £101 million ($136 million) to Mauritius.

• About Chagos Islands : Located 500 km south of the Maldives in the Indian Ocean; consists of 58 islands.

၀ Originally inhabited by enslaved Africans and Indians under French rule in the 18th century.

၀ Ceded to Britain in 1814; detached from Mauritius in 1965 to form British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

၀ Despite Mauritius’ 1968 independence, the UK retained control until agreeing to transfer sovereignty in 2024.

• About Diego Garcia: Largest island in the Chagos archipelago; coral atoll located 7° south of the equator.

၀ Leased to the UK and US in 1967; became a key military base in 1986.

၀ 2024 agreement allows UK-US operations to continue under a 99-year lease.

၀ International Court of Justice backed Mauritius’ sovereignty claim in 2019.

၀ Played a major role in the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and post-9/11 operations.