← 9 September 2026's Current Affairs · International Relations GA Prelims ★★★☆☆ Mains ★★★☆☆
Maldives seeks talks with Britain over historical ties to the Chagos Archipelago
Why in News?
Maldives seeks talks with Britain over historical ties to the Chagos Archipelago
The Maldives has sought talks with Britain over the Chagos Archipelago, citing historical ties, after the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.
Why it matters: general awareness
What you need to know
2 min read
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has invited British counterparts for talks over the Chagos Archipelago, citing the Maldives' own historical and cultural ties to the islands.
The Chagos Archipelago, which includes the island of Diego Garcia housing a major US-UK military base, was long administered by Britain despite a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion that called its continued control unlawful.
In 2024, Britain agreed to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius while retaining operational rights over the Diego Garcia base.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- Chagos Archipelago
- Diego Garcia
- ICJ advisory opinion
- decolonisation
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- Chagos Archipelago, Diego Garcia, ICJ advisory opinion, decolonisation
Mains
Use as an example in GA answers (GS2 - International Relations: decolonisation, Indian Ocean geopolitics).
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
With reference to the Chagos Archipelago, consider the following statements:
- The International Court of Justice gave an advisory opinion in 2019 holding that the United Kingdom's continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago was unlawful.
- The Chagos Archipelago includes the island of Diego Garcia, which hosts a major United States-United Kingdom military base.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: C — Both statements are correct. The ICJ's 2019 advisory opinion found the UK's continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago unlawful and called for decolonisation to be completed, and the archipelago's Diego Garcia island hosts a major US-UK military base.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ