Girish Linganna
Recent political moves in Indian Ocean island nations are boosting India’s influence in the region.
In May, following a UN resolution supported by 116 nations, including India, the United Kingdom handed over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The Chagos Islands, also called the Chagos Archipelago, are a group of small but strategically important islandsin the middle of the Indian Ocean. For decades, they were controlled by the U.K., which even allowed the U.S. to use one of the islands, Diego Garcia, as a military base. Mauritius had long demanded their return.
The recent handover marked a historic moment, as it restored sovereignty to Mauritius and was widely seen as a diplomatic win for India, since New Delhi had consistently supported Mauritius’ claim at international forums.
This move has boosted New Delhi’s image and influence in the Indian Ocean, reports The Diplomat.
However, London and Washington still control Diego Garcia, the biggest island in the Chagos. It is a U.S.-U.K. military base, placed at a key location in the Indian Ocean.
Meanwhile, New Delhi, sticking to its anti-colonial policy, pushed the U.K. to end its colonial rule in the Chagos Islands, and helped restore Mauritius’ sovereignty over the island chain.
Controlling Key Sea Routes
Further north in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy guards two important choke points – the Lakshadweep and Andaman Islands – where major global trade ships pass, reports The Diplomat.
All ships going to the Pacific from the Persian Gulf (region rich in oil, near Iran and Saudi Arabia) and Gulf of Aden (sea route near Yemen and Somalia) pass through a 200 km wide route called the Nine Degree Channel, which lies along India’s Lakshadweep Islands.
No comments:
Post a Comment