India's Chagos Islands play points to its role in Ocean security

New Delhi: India's assistance to Mauritius to assert its sovereignty over Chagos Islands that the UK is handing over to Mauritius is significant as it underlines New Delhi's role as the net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region amid intensification of big power rivalry in the area.

In this context, a major highlight of the meeting between the PMs of India and Mauritius during the recent visit of the Mauritius PM here was India offering to assist Mauritius to survey its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) that has increased due to the inclusion of Chagos Islands in Mauritian territory.

With the Chagos Islands, Mauritius will have an expanded maritime zone to monitor. Currently, the size of Mauritius EEZ is estimated at 2.3 million square km for a country with a modest coast guard, operating less than a dozen patrol vessels.


Further, New Delhi and Port Louis agreed on India building a satellite tracking station in Mauritius. The station will not only help track and receive data from satellites but will also turn into a strategic asset for India.

Mauritius will use an Indian ship to travel to Chagos Islands to put its flag there and this has huge symbolic significance. This sends a subtle message to the UK which had earlier offered Mauritius a ship to reach Chagos.