The Chagos dispute: where right makes might

Abstract

Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia is one of the most important US bases in the world, from which the US military can support operations in East Africa, the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, and as far afield as the South China Sea. However, recent events mean that the base on Diego Garcia faces political and legal uncertainty. It is housed inside one of 14 remaining British Overseas Territories, the British Indian Ocean Territory. The vast majority of the international community regards this jurisdiction as an illegal holdover from the colonial era, and recognises Mauritius as the legitimate sovereign authority over Diego Garcia and the rest of the Chagos Islands. In this viewpoint article, I analyse why the United States might consider supporting the decolonisation of the Chagos Archipelago – including the critical island of Diego Garcia – for reasons of strategic self-interest as well as moral integrity. I argue that the Chagos dispute is one of those uncommon instances in world politics where right can make might – where adhering to international rules will redound to the material benefit of all concerned, including, in this case, the would-be decolonisers.