Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirmed India's support for Mauritius regarding the Chagos Archipelago, highlighting their strategic significance in the Indian Ocean region, during a two-day Port Louis visit to strengthen bilateral relations.
Many Mauritians view India's potential support for Mauritius' claim to Chagos "positively, seeing it as backing their efforts to regain sovereignty over the territory," Dr Navi Ramgolam, Deputy Director, Director of Operations & International Liaison Officer (Mauritius) at Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre told Sputnik India.
Ramgolam emphasised that in Mauritius, there are still individuals, or their descendants, who assert ancestral ties to the archipelago and "actively advocate for their rights through political engagement."
"Our land remains our land" resonates strongly among Mauritians, reflecting a desire for sovereignty over Chagos, the expert noted.
And the governments, showing concern for the archipelago issue, gain trust within the community, influencing electoral outcomes significantly, he underlined.
Speaking about the strategic importance of Diego Garcia, Ramgolam suggested that India benefits from supporting Mauritius' sovereignty claim over the archipelago as it could enhance "India's quest in global geopolitical standing and competitive position" and potentially secure its advantageous "leverage in future negotiations."
Mauritius, in turn, stands to "benefit from enhanced maritime policing capabilities over its extensive ocean territory with India's assistance," addressing its current limitations in maritime safety and security resources, the pundit asserted.
The Chagos Archipelago: A Geopolitical Flashpoint of Colonial Legacy
Throughout history, India has consistently stood against colonialism, said Dr. Sripathi Narayanan, Research Fellow at Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA). He pointed to the Bangladesh liberation war, earlier actions by Biju Patnaik in Southeast Asia, including rescuing leaders like Soetan Sjahrir and then Vice-president Mohammad Hatta, in conversation with Sputnik India.
Moreover, India has consistently supported states in the Indian Ocean region and has been a 'net provider' of security over the past 15 years, the expert illustrated. This is demonstrated through various forms of assistance, such as aid contribution during the 2004 tsunami and the distribution of Covid vaccines, he stated.
"India has been a staunch supporter of decolonisation movements, opposing not just the act of decolonization itself but also other extremities linked to colonialism," Narayanan stated.
He mentioned that India was among the few countries that “actively opposed apartheid in South Africa and spearheaded efforts to establish a fund aimed at boycotting South Africa and its dependent neighbouring economies in Africa, with the funds allocated towards compensation and related initiatives.”
Similarly, the issue of Chagos archipelago is emblematic of British actions during Mauritius' independence, “underscoring ongoing concerns related to colonial remnants and separations that continue to influence geopolitical dynamics,” the analyst contended.
He stressed that Mauritius, where a significant portion of the population is of Indian origin, holds a crucial strategic position, which led the British to separate the archipelago from the island country.
The archipelago's importance in Indian Ocean military affairs is profound, explaining “why the Americans are deeply involved, and the British are aiding in prolonging the Chagos dispute,” Narayanan added.
In the meantime, the importance of advocating for the agenda through platforms such as the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), and other relevant forums is essential for articulating India's policy to help countries in the region move past their colonial histories," Commodore RS Vasan (Retd.), Director Chennai Centre for China Studies told Sputnik India.
India sees opportunities for naval exercises with regional navies passing through the Indian Ocean, as well as with the Indian Navy expanding its engagements to share and learn the best practices in addressing traditional and non-traditional threats, and this approach “does not aim to replicate NATO," the Commodore stressed. India's focus remains on cooperation rather than forming military alliances, as it is crucial to cultivate diplomatic ties with all nations in the IOR region, supporting India's SAGAR initiative — aimed at fostering security and prosperity throughout the area, he concluded.