The India support for the sovereignty of Chagos speaks volumes

As one of the last vestiges of British colonial control in the Indian Ocean and hosts a major American military base, the Chagos archipelago has long been entangled in a loaded geopolitical competition. Thus, the visit this month of Prime Minister Indias Narendra Modi in Mauritius To mark its countries explicit support For Mauritius, sovereignty on Chagos is important.

Originally part of Mauritius, the United Kingdom Detached Chagos In 1965, before Mauritius' independence and later rented Diego Garcia in the United States for a military base. Native Chagossians were forciblyAnd Maurice has since led a diplomatic and legal battle for the return of the archipelago. In 2019, the International Court of Justice judge This British control was illegal and called for the return of archipelalagos to Mauritius, a position reaffirmed by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly to which the United Kingdom did not comply. However, in 2024, the British government government concluded an agreement With Maurice to return the Chagos archipelago, recognizing international pressure. This was considered to be part of the wider efforts of the United Kingdom to fight against the territorial conflicts of the colonial era.

This agreement was put outstanding After Donald won over the victory during the American presidential election in 2024, in part because of fear that this could improve the strategic position of China in the region. Trump, however, reported a will To support the agreement, provided a long -term rental contract for Diego Garcia remains in place. Consequently, sovereignty negotiations remain in the limbo, Maurice Tressant for a resolution while navigating Interior political disagreements On the agreement.

Meanwhile, discussions between the United States and the United Kingdom on the long-term future of Diego Garcia are continuing, the United Kingdom offering the United States an effective veto on the agreement due to the military interests and the shared intelligence. Trump indicated optimism as to the agreement, but given its history of unpredictability, the final approval remains subject to new negotiations between Washington and London.

In the midst of these diplomatic maneuvers, India has always sustained Mauritius' claim to Chagos, aligning with its long -standing position for decolonization and territorial integrity of all nations. Officially, New Delhis' position is supervised as part of its commitment to international law and the world South. However, strategic interests cannot be ignored. Mauritius occupies a special place in the strategy of the Indian Ocean of New Delhis, because of his large Indian diaspora and his geopolitical location. Support to the India of Chagos strengthens bilateral links and strengthens its image as a leader of post-colonial nations arguing for sovereignty rights.

Maurice's support on Chagos deepens the India strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean, perhaps opening doors for improved maritime cooperation, intelligence sharing and access to crucial logistics centers.

However, this position puts India in a delicate diplomatic position. The United Kingdom remains a key partner, and the American base of Diego Garcia plays an essential role in Indo-Pacific Security, including quadruple cooperation. By supporting Mauritius, the Indian risks complicating its security dynamics with these Western allies. New Delhi sought to maintain the balance approving the sovereignty of Mauritius without directly confronting the United States or in the United Kingdom.

The India position is also shaped by its maritime security doctrine. Modi used his trip to describe the last vision of regional security, revealing Mahasagar, or mutual and holistic advancement for safety and growth between regions. This is an upgrade of the Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Region) Initiative, which he first articulated ten years ago, also in Mauritius. While the Indo-Pacific is becoming more and more disputed, India is positioned as a Net security supplier in the region. This requires delicate maneuvers balancing its commitment to international standards while ensuring that its partnerships with major powers remain intact.

Maurice's support on Chagos deepens the India strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean, perhaps opening doors for improved maritime cooperation, intelligence sharing and access to crucial logistics centers. There is also the question of long -term gains. If Maurice regains full control on Chagos, he could seek alternative security provisions. Could this include the limited access offer in India to maritime surveillance or logistics support? Although speculative, such a movement would considerably strengthen the India presence in the region. In addition, the Chinese factor is also relevant here. The support of the India prevents China from monopolizing decolonization discourse and strengthens its credibility among the small states of the Indian Ocean. At the same time, it guarantees that any future negotiation on Chagos remains in diplomatic orbit India.

Maurice's India support on Chagos is not only a legal or moral position; It is a geopolitical movement calculated in a Changing Indo-Pacific Order. Although it strengthens the India role as a leader in the world of world, it also tests New Delhis' ability to balance decolonial advocacy with strategic realities. In the future, Indias Challenge will be to navigate the problem of Chagos without disturbing its wider security partnerships. Some questions persist: does New Delhi will pressure for a resolution at the United Nations, or will it maintain a prudent diplomatic approach? Can he continue to support Mauritius without alienating the United States and the United Kingdom? More critical, if Maurice regains control, will India emerge as a favorite security partner in the region? It is too early to answer these questions, but what remains certain is that Chagos is more than a problem of sovereignty, it is an India capacity test to shape the Indo-Pacific Order in his words.