Indian Fishermen Detained Near Diego Garcia Island by British Navy

Why in the News?

Fifteen Indian fishermen from Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, were detained by the British navy near Diego Garcia island for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary. This incident has once again brought international attention to Diego Garcia, its strategic significance, and its controversial history.

About Diego Garcia: Strategic Location in the Indian Ocean

• Location:

  Diego Garcia is the largest and southernmost island in the Chagos Archipelago, situated in the central Indian Ocean. It is a key military and strategic site due to its proximity to global shipping routes.

• Physical Features:

  The atoll covers an area of 17 square miles (44 square kilometers) and features a V-shaped cay surrounding a lagoon that opens to the north, making it a notable geographical feature.

• Population:

  Though uninhabited by permanent civilians, Diego Garcia is home to approximately 4,000 U.S. and British military personnel, along with civilian staff, who are stationed at its military facilities.

• Part of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT):

  Diego Garcia is located within the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), a British overseas territory that remains under military and strategic importance.

The History of Diego Garcia

• Early Discovery and Portuguese Exploration:

  Diego Garcia was initially discovered by the Portuguese in the 16th century and was later administered as a dependency of Mauritius.

• Separation from Mauritius:

  In 1965, Diego Garcia and the Chagos Archipelago were separated from Mauritius and incorporated into the newly formed British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), leading to long-standing disputes over sovereignty.

• Eviction of the Chagossians:

  In the 1970s, the British government forcibly removed the native Chagossian population to Mauritius, Seychelles, and the United Kingdom to make room for the establishment of U.S. military bases on the island.

Conflict and Legal Disputes Over Diego Garcia

• Military Base Development and Geopolitical Tensions:

  Diego Garcia became a pivotal joint military base for the United States and the United Kingdom during the 1970s, sparking opposition from Indian Ocean littoral states and causing geopolitical tensions.

• Legal Disputes and the Fight for Return:

  The legal battle for the Chagossian people's right to return began in the late 1990s. British courts initially ruled in favor of the displaced inhabitants but later reversed this decision, intensifying the conflict.

• International Court of Justice (ICJ) Ruling:

  In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the decolonization process of the Chagos Archipelago, which led to its separation from Mauritius, was illegal. The ICJ recommended that the islands be returned to Mauritius, further complicating the sovereignty dispute.

Current Status of Diego Garcia

• Sovereignty Agreement with Mauritius:

  In October 2024, the United Kingdom agreed to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. However, a 99-year lease allows the UK and US to retain control over Diego Garcia for military purposes.

• Ongoing Strategic Importance:

  Despite the sovereignty dispute, Diego Garcia remains a critical military base, with significant importance for military operations in the Indian Ocean. The island has played an essential role in major conflicts such as the Persian Gulf War, the Afghanistan War, and the Iraq War.