{"id":5841,"date":"2025-11-15T08:11:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-15T08:11:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/?p=5841"},"modified":"2025-11-15T08:11:29","modified_gmt":"2025-11-15T08:11:29","slug":"india-secures-satellite-facility-in-chagos-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/?p=5841","title":{"rendered":"India Secures Satellite Facility in Chagos Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div><p class=\"pvc_stats all \" data-element-id=\"5841\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 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428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> &nbsp;38&nbsp;total views, &nbsp;1&nbsp;views today<\/p><div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"995\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"5848\"  src=\"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-1-1-995x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5848\" srcset=\"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-1-1-995x1024.jpeg 995w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-1-1-292x300.jpeg 292w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-1-1-768x790.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-1-1.jpeg 1079w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 995px) 100vw, 995px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"887\" height=\"1024\" data-id=\"5847\"  src=\"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-2-887x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-2-887x1024.jpeg 887w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-2-260x300.jpeg 260w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-2-768x887.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-06-at-11.59.32-2.jpeg 1079w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 887px) 100vw, 887px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailyexcelsior.com\/indian-defence-presence-on-chagos-islands\/\n\">https:\/\/www.dailyexcelsior.com\/indian-defence-presence-on-chagos-islands\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.punjabtodaynews.com\/indian-presence-on-chagos-islands\/\n\">https:\/\/www.punjabtodaynews.com\/indian-presence-on-chagos-islands\/<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scoopnews.in\/m\/newsdet.aspx?q=140896\">https:\/\/www.scoopnews.in\/m\/newsdet.aspx?q=140896<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Reportedly, India has secured an agreement with the government of Mauritius allowing it to establish a satellite station in the Chagos archipelago, near the controversial Diego Garcia base. According to reports the purpose of the new station, will be to track satellites and \u201cto serve as a strategic asset for monitoring the region,\u201d a formula normally used to describe SIGINT collection sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Apparently, India has signed an agreement with the Mauritian government to secure its defence presence on the Chagos Islands. The report does not give a precise location for the new facility, which has probably not yet been fixed, but postulates it will be \u201cnear the Diego Garcia US-UK strategic base.\u201d It is not clear how the site will be serviced. The Indian ambition is likely to be to create a similar facility to that it has already established on Agal\u00e9ga, an island belonging to Mauritius, which, despite denials, India has already for practical purposes annexed.<br>Mauritius is heavily dependent on India\u2019s support and goodwill, under which Mauritius operates as an offshore financial centre for India. When the agreement was signed, India\u2019s Prime Minister Modi said he had always supported decolonisation of the Chagos, and that while \u201cIndia and Mauritius are two nations, our dreams and destiny are one.\u201d<br>Also, as part of the Indian-Mauritius agreement, which was made during an eight-day visit of Mauritius PM Navinchandra Ramgoolam to New Delhi in September 2025, a plan was sanctioned to allow Indian naval vessels to conduct hydrographic surveys of the archipelago, most of which was a closed describing it as a \u2018Marine Protected Area\u2019 when administered by the British Indian Ocean Territory. Such surveys would be necessary if India\u2019s Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines are to operate in Chagos waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The deal also calls for the refitting of a Mauritius Coast Guard ship to prepare it for patrol duties in the Chagos, and the provision of $680 million in aid, some of which is allocated to \u201cdevelopment of the Chagos Marine Protected Area.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Importance of Mauritius Getting Chagos Islands<br>Mauritius won a strategic victory on May 22, 2025, when the United Kingdom (UK) officially handed over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands after finalising the political treaty agreed to in October last year. Under the deal, the important naval and bomber base on Diego Garcia \u2014 one of the archipelago\u2019s largest islands, operated by US forces, will be leased by the UK from Mauritius which will maintain sovereignty over the region, according to The Independent.<br>Terming the deal as vital to British security, PM Starmer said that it was the only way to maintain the naval base\u2019s long-term future. He added that if UK had not agreed to the deal, the legal challenges mounted by Mauritius would open avenues to China or any other nation to set-up their own bases on the outer islands or carry out joint exercises near its base. Mauritius has agreed to initially lease Diego Garcia to the UK for \u00a3101 million a year for 99 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India had welcomed the signing of the treaty between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the formal resolution of the longstanding Chagos dispute through this bilateral treaty is a milestone achievement and a positive development for the region. This is further to the understanding between the two sides reached in October last year, and marks the culmination of the process of decolonisation of Mauritius in the spirit of international law and rules-based order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>India has consistently supported Mauritius\u2019s legitimate claim over the Chagos Archipelago in keeping with its principled position on decolonization, respect for sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of nations. External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that as a steadfast and longstanding partner of Mauritius, India remains committed to working closely with Mauritius and other like-minded countries to strengthen maritime security and regional stability and ensure peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Diego Garcia<br>Whenever, the name Diego Garcia is mentioned, an image of a remote island probably in the Caribbeans or near Greece conjures up, but in reality, it lies much closer to India in the Indian Ocean. For years it has served as an important base for the US and UK air and naval forces.<br>According to a BBC report, the base is also one of an \u201cextremely limited number of places worldwide available to reload submarines\u201d with weapons like Tomahawk missiles, and the US has positioned a large amount of equipment and stores there for contingencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Walter Ladwig III, a senior lecturer in international relations at King\u2019s College London, agrees the base fulfils \u201ca lot of important roles\u201d &#8211; but that \u201cthere is this level of secrecy that seems to go beyond what we see at other places\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rumours have long swirled about the uses of Diego Garcia, including that it has been used as a CIA black-site &#8211; a facility used to house and interrogate terror suspects.<br>The UK government confirmed in 2008 that rendition flights carrying terror suspects had landed on the island in 2002, following years of assurances that they had not, as per the BBC. Further, tankers operating from Diego Garcia refuelled US B-2 bombers that had flown from the US to carry out the first airstrikes on Afghanistan after the 9\/11 attacks. And, during the subsequent \u201cwar on terror\u201d, aircraft were also sent directly from the island itself to Afghanistan and Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)<br>The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a unique feature of the British decolonisation process, whence it gave independence to some nations governed by it, but retained some parts of those nations which were strategically important to it. Diego Garcia and Chagos Islands are prime examples of this. Many critics also describe the British Overseas Territories (BOTS), as part of the British scheme from where dirty money was channelised back to the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chagos Islands are important for India due to their strategic location in the Indian Ocean and its support for Mauritius, India&#8217;s key partner in the region. India&#8217;s position is focused on strengthening regional maritime security and stability, especially in the context of countering China&#8217;s growing influence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strategic importance for India<br>India sees the deal as strengthening its ties with Mauritius, a key regional partner. India remains committed to working with Mauritius to enhance maritime security and regional prosperity. The security of the Indian Ocean is a top priority for India, and the territory&#8217;s location is crucial for monitoring shipping lanes and projecting power.<br>The territory is at the heart of the Indian Ocean, and its control by a major power like the US, which is a factor in India&#8217;s broader strategy to counter China&#8217;s growing influence in the region. On the other hand, the agreement sets a precedent for other similar situations and reflects the UK&#8217;s evolving position as a global power, succumbing to the current geopolitical landscape yet trying to continue its control over some territories, where it could still implement the jungle law, as per its convenience and desire.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"pvc_stats all \" data-element-id=\"5841\" style=\"\"><i class=\"pvc-stats-icon medium\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" version=\"1.0\" viewBox=\"0 0 502 315\" preserveAspectRatio=\"xMidYMid meet\"><g transform=\"translate(0,332) scale(0.1,-0.1)\" fill=\"\" stroke=\"none\"><path d=\"M2394 3279 l-29 -30 -3 -207 c-2 -182 0 -211 15 -242 39 -76 157 -76 196 0 15 31 17 60 15 243 l-3 209 -33 29 c-26 23 -41 29 -80 29 -41 0 -53 -5 -78 -31z\"\/><path d=\"M3085 3251 c-45 -19 -58 -50 -96 -229 -47 -217 -49 -260 -13 -295 52 -53 146 -42 177 20 16 31 87 366 87 410 0 70 -86 122 -155 94z\"\/><path d=\"M1751 3234 c-13 -9 -29 -31 -37 -50 -12 -29 -10 -49 21 -204 19 -94 39 -189 45 -210 14 -50 54 -80 110 -80 34 0 48 6 76 34 21 21 34 44 34 59 0 14 -18 113 -40 219 -37 178 -43 195 -70 221 -36 32 -101 37 -139 11z\"\/><path d=\"M1163 3073 c-36 -7 -73 -59 -73 -102 0 -56 133 -378 171 -413 34 -32 83 -37 129 -13 70 36 67 87 -16 290 -86 209 -89 214 -129 231 -35 14 -42 15 -82 7z\"\/><path d=\"M3689 3066 c-15 -9 -33 -30 -42 -48 -48 -103 -147 -355 -147 -375 0 -98 131 -148 192 -74 13 15 57 108 97 206 80 196 84 226 37 273 -30 30 -99 39 -137 18z\"\/><path d=\"M583 2784 c-38 -19 -67 -74 -58 -113 9 -42 211 -354 242 -373 16 -10 45 -18 66 -18 51 0 107 52 107 100 0 39 -1 41 -124 234 -80 126 -108 162 -133 173 -41 17 -61 16 -100 -3z\"\/><path d=\"M4250 2784 c-14 -9 -74 -91 -133 -183 -95 -150 -107 -173 -107 -213 0 -55 33 -94 87 -104 67 -13 90 8 211 198 130 202 137 225 78 284 -27 27 -42 34 -72 34 -22 0 -50 -8 -64 -16z\"\/><path d=\"M2275 2693 c-553 -48 -1095 -270 -1585 -649 -135 -104 -459 -423 -483 -476 -23 -49 -22 -139 2 -186 73 -142 361 -457 571 -626 285 -228 642 -407 990 -497 242 -63 336 -73 660 -74 310 0 370 5 595 52 535 111 1045 392 1455 803 122 121 250 273 275 326 19 41 19 137 0 174 -41 79 -309 363 -465 492 -447 370 -946 591 -1479 653 -113 14 -422 18 -536 8z m395 -428 c171 -34 330 -124 456 -258 112 -119 167 -219 211 -378 27 -96 24 -300 -5 -401 -72 -255 -236 -447 -474 -557 -132 -62 -201 -76 -368 -76 -167 0 -236 14 -368 76 -213 98 -373 271 -451 485 -162 444 86 934 547 1084 153 49 292 57 452 25z m909 -232 c222 -123 408 -262 593 -441 76 -74 138 -139 138 -144 0 -16 -233 -242 -330 -319 -155 -123 -309 -223 -461 -299 l-81 -41 32 46 c18 26 49 83 70 128 143 306 141 649 -6 957 -25 52 -61 116 -79 142 l-34 47 45 -20 c26 -10 76 -36 113 -56z m-2057 25 c-40 -58 -105 -190 -130 -263 -110 -324 -59 -707 132 -981 25 -35 42 -64 37 -64 -19 0 -241 119 -326 174 -188 122 -406 314 -532 468 l-58 71 108 103 c185 178 428 349 672 473 66 33 121 60 123 61 2 0 -10 -19 -26 -42z\"\/><path d=\"M2375 1950 c-198 -44 -350 -190 -395 -379 -18 -76 -8 -221 19 -290 114 -284 457 -406 731 -260 98 52 188 154 231 260 27 69 37 214 19 290 -38 163 -166 304 -326 360 -67 23 -215 33 -279 19z\"\/><\/g><\/svg><\/i> &nbsp;38&nbsp;total views, &nbsp;1&nbsp;views today<\/p>\n<div class=\"pvc_clear\"><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;38&nbsp;total views, &nbsp;1&nbsp;views today https:\/\/www.dailyexcelsior.com\/indian-defence-presence-on-chagos-islands\/ https:\/\/www.punjabtodaynews.com\/indian-presence-on-chagos-islands\/ https:\/\/www.scoopnews.in\/m\/newsdet.aspx?q=140896 Reportedly, India has secured an agreement with the government of Mauritius allowing it to establish a satellite station in the Chagos archipelago, near the controversial Diego Garcia base. According to reports the purpose of the new station, will be to track satellites and \u201cto serve as a strategic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[83,186],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5841"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5841"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5841\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5849,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5841\/revisions\/5849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/asadmirza.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}