Diego Garcia
Diego Garcia is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. It has been used as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, following the expulsion of the Chagossians by the UK government. The Chagos Islands are a British overseas territory, though a treaty to transfer sovereignty from the UK to Mauritius was signed on 22 May 2025, with a provision that the military base at the island would remain under British control for at least 99 years. The agreement may be renewed for an additional 40 years after the initial 99-year period, and for an additional period thereafter. The UK government expected the treaty to be ratified sometime in 2026. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed "deep concern" at the terms of the deal.
AI overview
Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago and has served as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, after the original inhabitants were removed by the British government. The island's status recently became subject to a 2025 treaty that would transfer the archipelago's sovereignty to Mauritius while keeping the military base under British control for at least 99 years, a deal that has drawn international concern over its terms.
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Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- island
- Part of
- Chagos Archipelago
- Named after
- Diego García de Moguer
- Official name
- Diego Garcia
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Continent
- Africa
- Population
- +4202
- Area
- +30
- Elevation
- +7
Article
Diego Garcia (/diˈeɪ.ɡoʊ ɡɑːrˈsiːə/) is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. It has been used as a joint UK–U.S. military base since the 1970s, following the expulsion of the Chagossians by the UK government. The Chagos Islands are a British overseas territory, though a treaty to transfer sovereignty from the UK to Mauritius was signed on 22 May 2025, with a provision that the military base at the island would remain under British control for at least 99 years. The agreement may be renewed for an additional 40 years after the initial 99-year period, and for an additional period thereafter. The UK government expected the treaty to be ratified sometime in 2026. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed "deep concern" at the terms of the deal.
Located just south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia lies 3,535 km (2,197 mi) east of Tanzania, 2,984 km (1,854 mi) east-southeast of Somalia, 726 km (451 mi) south of the Maldives, 1,796 km (1,116 mi) southwest of India, 2,877 km (1,788 mi) west-southwest of Sumatra, 4,723 km (2,935 mi) northwest of Australia, and 2,112 km (1,312 mi) northeast of Mauritius Island. Diego Garcia is part of the Chagos–Laccadive Ridge, an underwater mountain range that includes the Lakshadweep, the Maldives, and the other 60 small islands of the Chagos Archipelago. The island observes UTC+6 year-round.
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Atolls of the Chagos ArchipelagoCapital cities in AsiaCapital cities of dependent territories of the United KingdomGeography of the British Indian Ocean TerritoryIslands of the British Indian Ocean TerritoryMauritius–United Kingdom relationsMauritius–United States relationsMilitary of the British Forces British Indian Ocean TerritoriesPrison islandsRamsar sites in dependent territories of the United Kingdom