The United Kingdom and Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, home to the strategically vital island of Diego Garcia. After decades of tension and diplomatic wrangling, the British government agreed to transfer control of the islands to Mauritius, bringing a close to a contentious chapter of colonial history. The deal, which has been welcomed by major global players including the United States, India, and China, ensures the continued operation of the vital UK-US military base on Diego Garcia while allowing Mauritius to regain sovereignty over the rest of the archipelago.
The agreement, finalized in early October, follows a protracted legal and diplomatic struggle that has roots in the colonial era. For years, Mauritius has called for the return of the Chagos Islands, which were separated from Mauritius by the British in 1965, just before the island nation gained independence. The heart of the dispute has always been Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago and home to a critical military installation jointly operated by the United Kingdom and the United States.
As part of the new agreement, the UK will maintain control over Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years, paying an undisclosed rent to Mauritius for its continued use. At the same time, a resettlement fund will be established to compensate the Chagossian people, who were forcibly removed from the islands in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the military base. While the Chagossians will not be allowed to return to Diego Garcia itself, the resettlement fund is expected to enable their return to other islands within the archipelago.
The United States, which operates a significant military facility on Diego Garcia, has expressed support for the agreement. Diego Garcia has long been a crucial hub for US military operations in the Indo-Pacific, playing a pivotal role in operations across the Middle East, including the Gulf and Iraq wars. The continued operation of this base under the new agreement ensures that the US will maintain its strategic footprint in the region, a vital asset as global power dynamics continue to shift.
India, another key player in the Indian Ocean, has also welcomed the deal. A joint statement from the UK and Mauritius acknowledged the “full support and assistance” of both the United States and India in reaching the agreement, signaling India’s growing influence in regional diplomacy. India’s support for the continued US presence on Diego Garcia aligns with its broader geopolitical strategy of countering China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, China’s response has been more measured. While it has not publicly opposed the agreement, China’s investments in ports and infrastructure throughout the Indian Ocean region—including its first overseas military base in Djibouti—underscore its growing interest in the region. The strategic importance of Diego Garcia, located just 2,300 miles from the contested South China Sea, cannot be overstated in the context of ongoing US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific.
To understand the significance of the Diego Garcia agreement, it is essential to grasp the complex history of the Chagos Archipelago. The islands form part of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, an underwater mountain range that also includes the Lakshadweep Islands and the Maldives. Located some 1,300 miles northeast of Mauritius’ capital, Port Louis, Diego Garcia is the largest island in the archipelago and has been at the center of geopolitical intrigue for more than half a century.
In 1966, two years before Mauritius gained independence from Britain, the UK leased Diego Garcia to the United States, effectively ceding control of the island to allow the construction of a military base. The lease resulted in the forced displacement of approximately 1,500 Chagossians, an act that has been widely condemned by human rights groups and international organizations. The displaced Chagossians have fought for decades for the right to return to their homeland, a cause that has received global attention.
The military base on Diego Garcia was established in the 1970s and has since become one of the most strategically important military installations in the world. Officially referred to as the Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia by the US and the Permanent Joint Operating Base (PJOB) Diego Garcia by the UK, the base has played a critical role in US-led military operations throughout the Indo-Pacific and Middle East.
Mauritius has long argued that the UK’s control over the Chagos Islands is illegal. The dispute reached a critical turning point in May 2019 when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for the UK’s unconditional withdrawal from the archipelago. This followed an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled that the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 was unlawful and a violation of international law.
The UN resolution, passed with overwhelming support (116 votes in favor and only 6 against, including the US and UK), demanded that the UK withdraw from the islands within six months. However, the UK initially refused to comply, citing the continued need for the military base on Diego Garcia and raising concerns about regional security.
The UK’s decision to finally agree to a transfer of sovereignty in October 2024 marks a significant shift in its position and is seen as a major diplomatic victory for Mauritius.
At the heart of the Diego Garcia dispute lies its immense strategic value. The island’s location in the central Indian Ocean makes it a vital military asset, enabling the US and its allies to project power across the Indo-Pacific and beyond. Known as the “Footprint of Freedom,” Diego Garcia serves as a forward operating base for US bombers and other military assets, providing critical support for operations in the Middle East, the South China Sea, and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The US has deployed strategic bombers, including B-52H and B-2 aircraft, from Diego Garcia in recent years, demonstrating the island’s continued relevance in an era of increasing geopolitical competition. In early 2024, for example, two B-52H bombers were deployed to the base, while a B-2 bomber conducted a hot-pit refueling exercise at the airfield in August, underscoring its operational flexibility.
The base’s location, far from populated areas and outside the range of most conventional weapons systems, makes it an ideal staging ground for long-range operations. Its proximity to key shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, which carry over one-third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of global oil shipments, further enhances its strategic value.
For India, the Diego Garcia agreement represents a key victory in its efforts to counterbalance China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean. India has long viewed the Indian Ocean as its backyard, and the rise of China as a regional power has heightened Indian concerns about maintaining its dominance in the region. By supporting the continued US military presence on Diego Garcia, India seeks to ensure that China’s growing naval capabilities do not go unchecked.
In recent years, India has deepened its strategic partnership with Mauritius, including the construction of a military base on Agalega Island, part of the Mauritian archipelago. This base is seen as a complement to the US presence on Diego Garcia and a means for India to extend its influence across the Indian Ocean.
While the Diego Garcia agreement has been largely welcomed, some analysts have raised concerns about the potential for Chinese involvement in the Chagos Archipelago now that Mauritius has regained sovereignty. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy framed the agreement as a victory for global security, stating that it would strengthen the UK’s role in safeguarding the region and preventing the Indian Ocean from becoming an illegal migration route to the UK.
However, critics like former UK security minister Tom Tugendhat have warned that Mauritius could lease parts of the Chagos Islands to China, potentially giving Beijing a military foothold in the region. Such a development would have significant implications for the balance of power in the Indian Ocean, where both India and the US are seeking to counter China’s growing presence.
The resolution of the Diego Garcia dispute appears to strike a delicate balance between the interests of the key players involved. For Mauritius, the return of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a long-sought diplomatic victory, while the continued operation of the US base ensures that both the UK and the US maintain their strategic foothold in the region.
For the United States, the agreement secures the future of one of its most important overseas military bases, while for India, it provides a means of countering China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean. As global power dynamics continue to evolve, the Diego Garcia agreement will likely remain a cornerstone of the geopolitical landscape in the Indo-Pacific for years to come.
