Description

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Picture Courtesy: LIVEMINT

Why In News?

Recent geopolitical tensions have escalated sharply following an attempted Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) attack by Iran on the joint US-UK military base at Diego Garcia.

About Diego Garcia

Diego Garcia is a coral atoll in the central Indian Ocean, serving as a critical military outpost for the United Kingdom and the United States

Geography and Features

Location: Situated approximately 1,796 km south of India and 3,535 km east of Tanzania.
Archipelago: It is the largest and southernmost island of the Chagos Archipelago.
Shape: A distinctive horseshoe or footprint-shaped coral atoll enclosing a deep natural lagoon.
Topography: Extremely low-lying, with an average elevation of just 1.2 metres above sea level.

Strategic and Military Significance

Diego Garcia is often called the "unsinkable aircraft carrier" due to its role as a forward-operating base.

Power Projection: Its central location allows rapid military reach across West Asia, East Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Facilities: Hosts a 3,700-metre runway capable of supporting B-52, B-1, and B-2 stealth bombers. Its deep-water harbour accommodates aircraft carriers and pre-positioned supply ships.
Key Operations: Used as a launchpad for the Gulf War (1991) and operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Sovereignty Dispute & 2025 Treaty

Historical Context: In 1965, the UK separated the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius to form the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).

Displacement: Between 1968 and 1973, the indigenous Chagossian (Ilois) population was forcibly removed to make way for the military base.

ICJ Ruling (2019): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK's administration was unlawful and that the islands should be returned to Mauritius.

Sovereignty Treaty (2025): The UK and Mauritius signed a landmark treaty where the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The Caveat: The UK will retain control of the military base on Diego Garcia for at least 99 years under a lease agreement.

Source: LIVEMINT

Attempt Daily Quiz

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global choke point for energy transit, connects which of the following water bodies?

a) Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

b) Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

c) Black Sea and Sea of Marmara

d) Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea

Answer: a

Explanation:

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital maritime choke point that serves as the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. It is located between Iran to the north and Oman (specifically the Musandam Peninsula) and the United Arab Emirates to the south.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Diego Garcia is a strategically located island in the Indian Ocean functioning as a crucial staging ground for US-UK military operations, strategic bombers, and intelligence. Its extended reach allows for robust force projection across the Middle East, Africa, and the Indo-Pacific.

The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most important energy transit corridor, facilitating the movement of roughly 25% of all global seaborne oil trade and 20% of global oil consumption. Any disruption here drastically threatens global energy supplies and causes severe oil price volatility.

India imports over 85% of its crude oil, heavily relying on the Middle East. Geopolitical escalations cause crude prices to surge. A sustained $100/barrel oil price widens India’s current account deficit (CAD), imports inflation, disrupts business sentiment, and depreciates the Rupee.