Diego Garcia remains a cornerstone of Western military strategy in an increasingly multipolar world. As the geopolitical landscape shifts, this island of the Chagos Archipelago continues to hold outsized importance for U.S. and allied military operations, especially as regional threats in the Middle East escalate. The recent agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius to recognize Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, though it comes with critical compromises that ensure the base remains under Western control for the foreseeable future.

For decades, the sovereignty dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, particularly Diego Garcia, has been a point of contention between Mauritius, the UK, and the international community. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK’s control of the islands was illegal, urging the British to return the archipelago to Mauritius. However, the geopolitical reality that Diego Garcia is home to a vital U.S. military base complicated any immediate return of sovereignty. Now, the UK is set to officially recognize Mauritian sovereignty, while maintaining military control of Diego Garcia for an “initial” period of 99 years.

While critics argue that this agreement legitimizes an illegal occupation, supporters see it as a pragmatic solution. Mauritius regains sovereignty over more than 60 islands in the archipelago, along with a financial benefit in the form of rent paid by the U.S. for the continued use of Diego Garcia. For the U.S. and the UK, the agreement ensures uninterrupted military operations from a base that has been a linchpin of Western strategy since the Cold War.

Diego Garcia’s Importance

The significance of Diego Garcia has grown since the Cold War, particularly as tensions rise in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. From this base, the U.S. can project power, gather intelligence, and conduct military operations across three key regions: Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In the current geopolitical context, where U.S. policymakers face challenges from a more assertive China and a resurgent Russia, Diego Garcia serves as a crucial forward operating base.

As former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger once remarked, “America has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.” This observation underscores the importance of maintaining strategic assets like Diego Garcia, regardless of the changing political tides. The base’s value lies in its ability to support U.S. global military objectives, from counterterrorism operations to maintaining a balance of power in critical regions.

The recent agreement reflects the necessity of compromise in geopolitics, as president Biden put it. While Mauritius regains sovereignty over the archipelago, the U.S. and UK retain operational control of Diego Garcia, ensuring Western military interests remain safeguarded. The inclusion of India in regional security efforts – particularly its role in Agalega – further bolsters Western efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean. This trilateral cooperation serves as a bulwark against Beijing’s growing presence in the region, particularly as China’s Belt and Road Initiative expands.

For Mauritius, the agreement not only represents the return of sovereignty but also provides a financial windfall through rent payments for Diego Garcia.

Despite the diplomatic progress, the debate over Diego Garcia’s future is far from over. Some view the current agreement as a temporary fix, while others argue that it sets a long-term precedent for Western control over the base. For Mauritius, the struggle for full sovereignty may continue to play out over the coming decades. As one observer noted, this could become “another Hundred Years’ War” over the archipelago’s status.

Nevertheless, in the realm of international relations, incremental gains are often the most realistic outcome. As the world continues to evolve – often for the worse – securing partial sovereignty and financial benefits may be the best possible outcome for Mauritius under the current global order. As Kissinger aptly stated, the key to diplomacy is “not in eliminating the conflict but in managing it”.