The Tiny Island at the Heart of a Big Dispute

In the vast Indian Ocean, a small island named Diego Garcia is causing a big stir. This island, part of the Chagos Archipelago, is home to a major US military base. The base has been leased by the United States from Britain since the 1970s. The lease is set to continue until at least 2036. Around 2, 500 personnel live on the base, most of them American. The base has played a central role in US operations in the region, including campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has also been linked to secret CIA facilities. The Chagos Islands were once part of Mauritius, a former British colony. In 1965, Britain separated the islands from Mauritius. About 2, 000 original residents of the islands were expelled to make way for the US base. Many of these residents and their descendants now live in Mauritius and have been campaigning for the right to return. In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius was unlawful. The same year, a UN General Assembly resolution called on Britain to withdraw its administration from the islands. Only six countries, including Britain, the United States, and Israel, voted against the resolution.Last year, Britain and Mauritius reached an agreement. Under this agreement, Britain would transfer sovereignty over all of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. In return, Britain would pay Mauritius $136 million a year for a 99-year lease of the military base on Diego Garcia. This would allow Britain and the United States to continue operating the base. However, US President Donald Trump has recently opposed this agreement. This has reignited a political storm in Britain. Some British politicians have criticized the deal, calling it foolish and an act of self-sabotage. It remains unclear whether Trump's objections will derail the agreement, given Labour's large majority in Parliament. The negotiations between Britain and Mauritius were conducted without the involvement of the Chagossians themselves. A survey found that most Chagossians favor remaining under British rule and oppose transferring sovereignty to Mauritius. Mauritius, however, has stressed that its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is clearly established under international law. This dispute over the Chagos Islands reflects a deeper clash of worldviews. While Britain argues it has a legal obligation to hand over the islands, Trump has made clear he does not recognize such constraints. This dispute is not just about a tiny island. It is about the future of international law, the rights of displaced people, and the role of military bases in global politics.