What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

They may ask which country claims the islands, offering 'Seychelles' or 'Madagascar' as distractors instead of the correct 'Mauritius'. They might also swap the roles of the ICJ (advisory) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) which ruled on the maritime boundary.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 99-year lease term for Diego Garcia base. 2. Target this Nodal Body: International Court of Justice (ICJ) - gave the 2019 advisory opinion. 3. Target this Legal Point: UN General Assembly resolution supporting Mauritius's claim.

International RelationsGeopolitics

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News 11 of 29

UK Pauses Ceding Chagos Islands to Mauritius After U.S. Opposition; Diego Garcia Military Base to Remain Under 99-Year Lease

Q: Which international court gave an advisory opinion in 2019 stating that the UK should end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago?

International Court of Justice (ICJ), In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's principal judicial organ, issued an advisory opinion stating that the UK is obliged to end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago. This is a key static fact linked to the dispute.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the recent news on Chagos Islands: 1. The UK has permanently cancelled its plan to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius. 2. The proposed deal included a provision for the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia base for 99 years. 3. The pause in the plan was influenced by opposition from the government of France. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only 2, Statement 1 is incorrect: The UK has 'paused' or put the plan 'on hold', not permanently cancelled it. Statement 2 is correct as per the article: the deal included a 99-year lease for the Diego Garcia base. Statement 3 is incorrect: the opposition came from the U.S., not France.

Q: For how many years was the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia military base under the proposed deal with Mauritius?

99 years, The article explicitly states that under the deal, Britain would retain control of the Diego Garcia military base on a '99-year lease'. This is a precise data point that can be asked in prelims.

Q: What is the primary strategic reason cited for the U.S. opposition to the UK ceding the Chagos Islands to Mauritius?

To preserve uninterrupted U.S. military operations at the Diego Garcia base., The article states the deal 'preserves U.S. operations there' and the pause came after U.S. criticism. Diego Garcia is a pivotal logistics hub for U.S. forces in the Middle East and Asia, making the continuity of operations the core strategic concern.

Intl. Relations Security & DefenceHIGH

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

11 Apr 2026

~2 min

Source: The Hindu

Key Data:99-year leaseDiego Garcia base

Bodies:UK GovernmentU.S. Government

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The UK government has put its deal to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on hold, influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump's criticism.

2.The deal included a 99-year lease for the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia military base, which is crucial for U.S. strategic operations.

3.For exam aspirants, this tests knowledge of international territorial disputes, the role of military bases in geopolitics, and the application of international court rulings.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

The UK has paused its planned sovereignty transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius following opposition from the U.S., which seeks to preserve its military operations at the Diego Garcia base. This highlights the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean region and the complex interplay of decolonization claims, international law, and global security interests.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Military Base Lease Term99 years

Key Military BaseDiego Garcia

Date of AnnouncementApril 11, 2026

Claimant NationMauritius

1-Minute Revision

›Military Base Lease Term: 99 years
›Key Military Base: Diego Garcia
›Target this Data: 99-year lease term for Diego Garcia base.
›Target this Nodal Body: International Court of Justice (ICJ) - gave the 2019 advisory opinion.
›Target this Legal Point: UN General Assembly resolution supporting Mauritius's claim.

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News Snapshot

⏸️

Deal on Pause

The UK has suspended its plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

🇺🇸

U.S. Opposition

The pause follows criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, concerned about the Diego Garcia base.

⚓

Strategic Lease

The original deal included a 99-year lease for the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia military base.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia, was separated from Mauritius by the UK in 1965 before Mauritius's independence. The UK evicted the native Chagossians to establish a joint UK-U.S. military base. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN General Assembly advised the UK to end its administration, supporting Mauritius's sovereignty claim. The UK had been negotiating a transfer that would allow it to retain the base under a long-term lease.

Core Analysis & Implications

The U.S. opposition, highlighted by President Trump's criticism, underscores Diego Garcia's critical role in U.S. global power projection, especially for operations in the Middle East and Asia. The pause reveals that strategic security interests of a major ally (U.S.) can override progress on decolonization and compliance with international court rulings. It tests the UK's balancing act between honoring international law and maintaining its 'special relationship' with the U.S. For Mauritius, this is a setback in its long-standing quest to complete its territorial integrity.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government will attempt to persuade Washington to approve the deal. The future hinges on U.S. strategic reassessments. If the deal eventually proceeds, the 99-year lease model could become a precedent for resolving other sovereignty disputes involving strategic military assets. The situation remains a live issue in international relations, potentially featuring in UN discussions and affecting UK-Mauritius bilateral relations.

Key Facts at a Glance

Military Base Lease Term99 years

Key Military BaseDiego Garcia

Date of AnnouncementApril 11, 2026

Claimant NationMauritius

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC

Which international court gave an advisory opinion in 2019 stating that the UK should end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC

Consider the following statements regarding the recent news on Chagos Islands:

1. The UK has permanently cancelled its plan to transfer sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius.

2. The proposed deal included a provision for the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia base for 99 years.

3. The pause in the plan was influenced by opposition from the government of France.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC

For how many years was the UK to retain control of the Diego Garcia military base under the proposed deal with Mauritius?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC

What is the primary strategic reason cited for the U.S. opposition to the UK ceding the Chagos Islands to Mauritius?

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UK Pauses Ceding Chagos Islands to Mauritius After U.S. Opposition; Diego Garcia Military Base to Remain Under 99-Year Lease

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Deal on Pause

U.S. Opposition

Strategic Lease

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance