Indian Ocean should be free from ‘big power rivalry’ – ex-diplomat on Trump’s Chagos claim

New Delhi supports Mauritius’ sovereignty over the islands, Dilip Sinha has told RT India

The Indian Ocean should be devoid of “big power rivalry,” a former diplomat has told RT India.

The remarks by Dilip Sinha, India’s former permanent representative to the United Nations, was in response to US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the UK’s decision to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius last year. The US has a military base in Diego Garcia, which is part of the Chagos Archipelago.

Trump has described the Chagos deal as an act of “great stupidity” and a threat to US national security. The UK has said the deal was “welcomed at the time by the American administration and also by European allies.”

“The Indian Ocean has become a playground for big power rivalry,” Sinha said on Wednesday. “All the five permanent members [of the United Nations Security Council] have military presence of various kinds.”
Sinha also pointed to China’s increasing presence in area, saying: “All this doesn’t augur well for peace in the Indian Ocean. It is important for India to keep asserting itself to ensure that the Indian Ocean remains free from big power rivalry.”

He added that India has always backed Mauritius’ efforts to gain sovereignty over the islands through the UN and the International Court of Justice.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed an agreement transferring sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius in May 2025.
However, the deal allows Washington and London to retain control of the joint military base on Diego Garcia for an initial period of 99 years at a reported total value of $3.9 billion.

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The Chagos Archipelago, comprising more than 60 islands, was separated from Mauritius by Britain in 1965, three years before the East African country gained independence.

In 1966, the largest island – Diego Garcia – was leased to the US for military use, and around 2,000 inhabitants were displaced.

Mauritius has said its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is undisputed and should “no longer be subject to debate.”