CHAGO ARCHIPELAGO: GEOGRAPHY
NEWS: Recently, the external affairs minister said that India will continue
supporting Mauritius on the issue of Chagos Archipelago in line with its stand
on decolonization.
Location and Geography
- Location:
Central Indian Ocean, ~1,000 miles (1,600 km) south of the Indian
subcontinent’s southern tip.
- Territory:
Overseas territory of the United Kingdom, established on November 8, 1965.
Key Islands:
- Diego Garcia:
Hosts a significant US military base.
- Danger Island
- Egmont Islands
- Eagle Islands
- Nelsons Island
- Peros Banhos
Atoll
Climate
- Type:
Tropical marine climate.
- Characteristics: High temperatures and elevated humidity levels.
- Moderation:
Moderated by trade winds.
Chagos Archipelago Dispute
Historical Context
- Claim:
Britain and Mauritius both claimed the archipelago in 1814.
- US Military Base: In 1966, Britain leased Diego Garcia to the United States for a
military base.
Legal and Political Issues
- Chagossian Rights: Descendants of African slaves from the 18th century fighting to
return to their homeland.
- Mauritius Claim: Since gaining independence in 1968, Mauritius has asserted its
claim over the Chagos Islands.
- ICJ Ruling:
In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK’s governance
of the Chagos Islands was unlawful and called for its withdrawal from the
archipelago.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/india-backs-mauritius-against-uk-on-chagos-islands/articleshow/111791889.cms?from=mdr