Strategic Ties and Territorial Shifts: The UK-Mauritius Treaty, Diego Garcia, and India’s Role in the Indian Ocean
This analysis, inspired by Rishika Singh’s article “UK-Mauritius Treaty on Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia: What It Means, Why it Matters for India” in The Indian Express (October 5, 2024), highlights the UK’s decision to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius while retaining Diego Garcia. For India, this is crucial for both supporting decolonisation efforts and strengthening its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean via its Agaléga base. As India counters China’s growing influence, these developments cement its role in shaping Indo-Pacific security and regional geopolitics.
The recent decision of the United Kingdom to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius is a significant development in both international diplomacy and regional geopolitics. The Chagos Islands, located in the Indian Ocean, have been the centre of a long-standing territorial dispute between the UK and Mauritius. This treaty has important implications for global and regional powers, including the United States and India, which have vested strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region. Understanding the historical context, strategic importance, and the treaty’s impact on India’s role in the region can provide a clear picture of its far-reaching consequences.
Historical Background of the Chagos Archipelago
The Chagos Archipelago consists of 58 islands, situated about 500 kilometres south of the Maldives. These islands were uninhabited until the late 18th century, when French colonial rulers brought enslaved labourers from Africa and India to work in coconut plantations. In 1965, the United Kingdom separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius, forming the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and keeping control over the archipelago even after Mauritius gained independence in 1968. This move led to a territorial dispute that persisted for decades, with Mauritius claiming that the UK’s retention of the islands was illegal under international law.
The largest island, Diego Garcia, became the focal point of the dispute due to its strategic importance. The UK and the United States entered into an agreement in 1966, allowing the U.S. military to establish a base on Diego Garcia. By the 1970s, the local Chagossians were forcibly removed from the islands, with approximately 2,000 people being displaced to make way for military operations. The island has since been a critical outpost for American military activities, especially in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa.
The UK-Mauritius Treaty: A Historic Agreement
In October 2023, the United Kingdom agreed to return most of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, marking a historic political agreement. However, under this treaty, Diego Garcia will remain under British control for at least 99 more years, allowing the U.S.-UK military base to continue operating. This compromise aims to resolve the long-standing sovereignty issue while ensuring that Diego Garcia remains a vital military asset.
This agreement allows Mauritius to implement a resettlement program for the displaced Chagossians on other islands in the archipelago, addressing humanitarian concerns that have plagued the dispute for decades. Additionally, a trust fund has been set up to benefit the displaced populations. While most of the archipelago will return to Mauritius, the continued operation of the Diego Garcia base reflects its enduring strategic significance for both the UK and the U.S. in the region.
Strategic Importance of Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia’s significance stems from its location at the heart of the Indian Ocean, making it a critical military outpost for power projection into key regions, including South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The base has played a pivotal role in U.S. military operations, such as during the Gulf War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its proximity to crucial maritime chokepoints, particularly the Malacca Strait, which is a vital trade route, adds to its strategic value for global and regional security.
The presence of the U.S.-UK military base on Diego Garcia allows for constant surveillance of key shipping lanes, ensuring that these vital routes remain open and free from interference, especially from rising global powers such as China. For the United States, the base is indispensable for responding rapidly to regional crises and maintaining a rules-based maritime order.
India’s Interests and Strategic Role
India has long supported Mauritius in its claims over the Chagos Archipelago, aligning with its stance on decolonisation and sovereignty for smaller nations. India’s backing of Mauritius has been consistent, as demonstrated by its vote in favour of Mauritius at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2019. India views the resolution of the dispute as an important step in completing Mauritius’ decolonisation, a cause India has historically supported.
Beyond diplomatic support, the treaty has direct implications for India’s strategic interests. The continued operation of the Diego Garcia base helps maintain regional stability, which aligns with India’s security concerns in the Indian Ocean. India, along with the U.S. and UK, views this stability as essential to counter growing Chinese influence in the region. China’s increasing presence through its “String of Pearls” strategy, which involves establishing a network of bases and ports across the Indian Ocean region, has been a source of concern for India. Diego Garcia, along with India’s own military facility on Agaléga Island, plays a critical role in balancing Chinese ambitions.
Agaléga Island—India’s Military Foothold
India’s establishment of a military base on Agaléga Island, which is part of Mauritius, adds a significant dimension to the regional strategic landscape. Located around 1,000 kilometres from Diego Garcia, the Agaléga base serves as a complement to Diego Garcia, enhancing India’s capacity to monitor key maritime routes and Chinese naval activities in the region. The base includes an extended airstrip and port facilities, supporting India’s naval and air forces. This development represents India’s broader effort to expand its military reach and ensure maritime security across the Indian Ocean region.
With China increasingly deploying naval assets in the Indian Ocean, the Agaléga base will enable India to enhance its maritime domain awareness (MDA), providing real-time intelligence on naval movements. The strategic location of Agaléga will allow India to assert greater control over vital shipping lanes, which are essential for regional trade and security. By working closely with the U.S. and UK, India can use the Agaléga base to strengthen its presence in the region and counterbalance Chinese expansion.
Geopolitical Implications
The geopolitical ramifications of the UK-Mauritius treaty and the existence of military bases on Diego Garcia and Agaléga are significant. These developments highlight India’s growing alignment with Western powers such as the U.S., the UK, France, and Japan. Through initiatives like the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), India has sought to deepen military cooperation with these countries, particularly as they share similar concerns about China’s growing maritime influence.
India’s base on Agaléga enhances its strategic depth, allowing it to maintain a forward military presence in the Indian Ocean region. This is increasingly important as China continues to establish infrastructure projects and military facilities in the region, including a base in Djibouti and ports in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Agaléga provides India with a defensive advantage while also enabling it to project power across the region. However, this militarisation of the Indian Ocean also poses risks, as China may respond by further expanding its military presence, potentially increasing tensions in the region.
What It Means for India
The UK-Mauritius treaty on the Chagos Archipelago and the continued operation of Diego Garcia represent significant diplomatic achievements that balance the interests of multiple countries. For India, these developments reinforce its role as a key player in the Indian Ocean Region. The establishment of a military base on Agaléga Island signals India’s intent to assert its influence in regional security and counter China’s growing presence.
The resolution of the Chagos dispute prevents Mauritius from turning to China for support, helping India maintain its strategic partnerships with both Mauritius and the UK. As India navigates its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, its collaboration with Western allies through Diego Garcia and Agaléga will be crucial in shaping the future security architecture of the Indian Ocean. These bases reflect India’s ambitions to maintain a strong military presence in the region and safeguard its maritime interests, ensuring that it remains a central player in the evolving dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.
Conclusion
The UK’s decision to return the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius is an important moment in global diplomacy. While most islands will go to Mauritius, Diego Garcia will remain a key military base for the UK and U.S. for at least 99 more years. This agreement resolves a long-standing dispute and allows displaced Chagossians to return. It also has strategic importance, as Diego Garcia helps maintain security in the Indian Ocean, countering China’s influence. India’s interests are strongly impacted by this agreement, as it strengthens its strategic role in the Indian Ocean, particularly in countering China’s growing influence in the region.