India To The Rescue As Mauritius Faces Off With US And UK Over Territorial Dispute

Unilaterally annexed by the United Kingdom in 1968, islanders living on the Chagos have been carefully evicted in groups, and made way for a US installation which serves as a military base called ‘Diego Garcia’.

Mauritius has now been laying claims over the island, and experts in the past have proved that the island came under the Mauritian territory during both, pre-colonial and post colonial era. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has passed a resolution with a huge majority seeking legal opinion on the subject matter.

Hence, 22 countries including India have presented their opinions to the International Court of Justice at The Hague. On one end, the UK is supported by the US, Israel and Australia. Mauritius is being backed by India and seventeen other countries.

According to Times of India, India’s ambassador Venu Rajamony who represented the Indian perspective said “the historical survey of facts indicate that the (Chagos Archipelago) territory has been with Mauritius during the pre and post colonial era. These areas came under colonial administration of the UK as a part of Mauritian territory.”

The Indian view is of special mention as according to the LEMOA signed with US in 2016, India can actually use Diego Garcia, and the move to back Mauritius despite UK and US reaching out for help comes as a surprise.