New monitoring station near Diego Garcia. The agreement also includes naval missions, economic aid, and greater strategic influence for New Delhi in the disputed area
India has obtained the green light from the government of Mauritius for the creation of a satellite station in the Chagos archipelago, one of the most sensitive and strategic areas of the Indian Ocean. This is reported by The Economic Times and The Times of India, according to which the facility will be intended for satellite tracking and regional monitoring, a formula that also suggests functions of electronic intelligence gathering (Sigint).
The precise location of the site has not yet been announced, but sources indicate it could be established in the vicinity of the Anglo-American base of Diego Garcia, one of the main Western military outposts in the area. The project is part of New Delhi’s broader strategy to consolidate its presence in the Indian Ocean, following the already operational base on the Mauritian island of Agaléga, which de facto represents a permanent Indian garrison.
Mauritius, heavily dependent on India’s economic and political support, signed the agreement during the official visit of Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam to New Delhi last September. On that occasion, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his country’s support for the decolonization of the Chagos, stating that “India and Mauritius are two nations, but they share the same dreams and the same destiny.”
The agreement also includes the possibility for Indian military ships to conduct hydrographic surveys in the archipelago—activities necessary for the potential presence of the Arihant-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, already operational in the Indian fleet. Furthermore, the renewal of a Mauritian Coast Guard ship for patrols in the waters of the Chagos and a $680 million aid package are planned, part of which is destined for the “development” of the local marine protected area.
The transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos from the United Kingdom to Mauritius was formally signed on May 25, 2025, but has yet to be ratified. The agreement stipulates that the United States will retain the use of the Diego Garcia base through a leaseback system once the British administration of the British Indian Ocean Territory is concluded.
In London, the agreement has caused strong political tensions. The Attorney General Lord Hermer and the negotiator Jonathan Powell have been criticized in Parliament for their handling of the dossier, also in relation to a closed judicial case concerning alleged Chinese spies. Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Powell “a strategic fool,” warning that Mauritius would be “an ally of the Chinese Communist Party” and that the agreement could pave the way for Chinese power projection from Diego Garcia.
British opposition parties have already announced that, in the event of a change of government, they will aim to revoke the agreement to keep the base under Western control. Meanwhile, India is consolidating its influence in the Indian Ocean, projecting itself as a key actor among Washington, Beijing, and London in the new strategic balance of the Indo-Pacific.
