History of Diego Garcia
The atoll is believed to have been discovered by Portuguese sailors in the early 16th century. The island was claimed by the French in the 18th century, and they established a coconut plantation there. The British took control of Diego Garcia during the Napoleonic Wars, and it was later incorporated into the British Indian Ocean Territory in 1965.
In the 1960s, the United States military began using Diego Garcia as a base for strategic bombers and naval vessels. The US leased the island from the British government for military purposes, and they built a large airfield, a seaport, and other infrastructure. During the Cold War, Diego Garcia played an important role in America’s military strategy against the Soviet Union. And in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the island has been used as a launchpad for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Controversies and Protests
Diego Garcia has been the subject of several controversies and protests over the years. The Chagossian people, who were the original inhabitants of the island, were forcibly removed from their homes by the British government in the 1960s and 1970s. The island was turned into a military base, and the Chagossians were left homeless and without compensation.
The Chagossians have been fighting for their right to return to Diego Garcia ever since. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution that