Chagos Islands: A Tale of Colonial Hangovers and Geopolitical Chess The Chagos Archipelago, a speck of islands in the Indian Ocean, has been a geopolitical hot potato for decades. Britain detached it from Mauritius in 1965, forcibly evicted its people, and leased Diego Garcia to the US for a military base, sparking a sovereignty dispute. The 2019 ICJ advisory opinion declared UK control unlawful, pushing Britain to cede sovereignty to Mauritius in 2024 after years of defiance. Mauritius plans resettlement but faces Chagossian skepticism. The deal secures the US-UK base for 99 years, with the UK paying £101 million annually. Geopolitically, it’s a chessboard: the US and India back the deal, while China looms. The UK avoids reparations but funds a trust for Chagossians. Critics call it a strategic blunder; supporters see diplomatic finesse. India gains influence, but the “surrender tax” rumor is bunk. A messy saga of colonial guilt and modern power plays. A Tiny Archipelago, A Giant Mess...