India Stands Firm: Jaishankar Reaffirms Support For Mauritius In Chagos Islands Dispute

In a recent bilateral engagement, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India's steadfast support for Mauritius in its longstanding sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Islands.

The visit, marking one of Jaishankar's initial diplomatic actions since resuming office, underscores India's consistent stance on decolonization and the territorial integrity of nations.

Background of the Chagos Islands

The Chagos Islands, a group of over 60 islands and seven atolls spread across 250,000 square miles in the Indian Ocean have been a point of contention between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Historically, these islands were discovered by Portuguese navigators in the 16th Century and later became possessions of France and Mauritius. Following the defeat of Napoleon, the British Empire gained control of Chagos along with Mauritius.

Chagos Dispute Between UK and Mauritius

Mauritius has maintained that the Chagos Archipelago has been an integral part of its territory since the 18th Century. However, in 1965, the UK separated Chagos, Aldabra, Farquhar, and Desroches from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), citing strategic military interests, including a major US military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago.

This separation resulted in the forced displacement of thousands of Chagossians to Mauritius and Seychelles, a move that has been widely condemned for its humanitarian impact.

Legal Proceedings and International Reactions

Mauritius initiated legal proceedings against the UK in 2015, arguing that the UK's actions violated international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In response, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague ruled against the UK, criticizing its establishment of a marine protected area without considering Mauritius' rights.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) also weighed in, issuing an advisory opinion in 2019 that called for the UK to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius "as rapidly as possible." The UK, however, disputed the binding nature of the ICJ's decision, asserting the strategic importance of its defence facilities on Diego Garcia.

UN General Assembly and Global Reactions

In a show of support for Mauritius, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Britain's occupation of the Chagos Islands. While some countries, including the US and its allies, backed the UK, many European nations abstained from voting, signalling divided international opinions on the matter.

Current Status and Future Outlook

Despite international legal rulings and diplomatic efforts, the Chagos Islands remain under British control. The UK government has reiterated its position that Mauritius has never held sovereignty over the archipelago and defended its continued administration of the islands.

As the dispute continues, with legal battles ongoing and diplomatic manoeuvres unfolding, the plight of the Chagossians and the strategic implications of Diego Garcia remains central to the broader geopolitical discourse in the Indian Ocean region. India's reaffirmed support for Mauritius in this dispute underscores its commitment to principles of sovereignty and decolonization, shaping its diplomatic engagements in the Indian Ocean and beyond.