Geopolitical Significance of Diego Garcia and the Indian Ocean Region
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Understanding the strategic importance of key geographical locations like Diego Garcia is crucial for analyzing India's security environment, maritime strategy, and the broader power dynamics in the Indian Ocean, which is vital for global trade and energy security.
Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), serves as a critical joint U.S.-U.K. military facility. Its strategic location in the central Indian Ocean makes it indispensable for projecting power, surveillance, and logistics, influencing regional security dynamics and global maritime trade routes.
Facts & tables
- Location
- Central Indian Ocean, part of Chagos Archipelago
- Function
- Joint U.S.-U.K. military base (air base, naval support facility)
- Strategic Value
- Critical for U.S. and U.K. military operations, surveillance, and power projection in the Indian Ocean, Middle East, and Africa
- Role
- Supports counter-terrorism, anti-piracy, and humanitarian operations
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Geopolitics & International Conflicts |
| Conceptual area | Physical & Regional Geography |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| United States Department of Defense | Operates |
| United Kingdom Ministry of Defence | Operates |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Key U.S.-U.K. military base in central Indian Ocean.
- Crucial for power projection, surveillance, logistics.
- Supports operations in Middle East, Africa, Asia.
- Central to Indian Ocean security dynamics.
- Underpins U.S. and U.K. strategic interests.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
-
Geopolitics & International Conflicts
Conceptual area
-
Physical & Regional Geography
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2016
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Conceptual understanding, Statement-based questions
-
Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
-
U.S. considers buying Chagos Islands: reports
Diego Garcia, a U.S.-U.K. base in the Chagos Islands, is strategically vital for military operations in the Indian Ocean, impacting regional security and global power projection.
See also
Past papers
2015–2024 · 8 questions
In the news
U.S. considers buying Chagos Islands: reports
Diego Garcia, a U.S.-U.K. base in the Chagos Islands, is strategically vital for military operations in the Indian Ocean, impacting regional security and global power projection.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following in respect of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among the navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The inaugural IONS was held in February 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Indian Navy served as the Chair for the first two years (2008-2010). Statement 2 is correct. IONS is indeed a voluntary initiative that aims to promote maritime cooperation among the navies of countries bordering the Indian Ocean. It provides a platform for discussions on regional maritime security issues and fosters friendly relationships between participating nations.
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to:
The correct answer is the Middle East. The Golan Heights is a hilly, 1,200 sq-km rocky plateau in south-western Syria in the Middle East region overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordan Valley. The Golan was Syrian territory until 1967 when Israel occupied it in the closing stages of the Six-Day War.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Consider the following statements regarding the India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS):
1. The summit held in 2015 marked the third edition of the IAFS.
2. The IAFS mechanism was instituted under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is correct: The Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III) was hosted in New Delhi in October 2015. The first and second summits were held in 2008 (New Delhi) and 2011 (Addis Ababa), respectively, making the 2015 event the third edition. Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Africa Forum Summit was institutionalized in 2008 to serve as the official platform for African-Indian relations. While Jawaharlal Nehru was a pioneer of Afro-Asian solidarity (e.g., the Asian Relations Conference of 1947), the IAFS is a distinct 21st-century initiative and was not established in 1951.
Show 3 more PYQs
Which of the following statements about 'Exercise Mitra Shakti-2023' are correct?
1. This was a joint military exercise between India and Bangladesh.
2. It commenced in Aundh (Pune).
3. Joint response during counter-terrorism operations was a goal of this operation.
4. Indian Air Force was a part of this exercise.
Select the answer using the code given below :
* Statement 1 is incorrect: Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023 was a joint military exercise between India and Sri Lanka. * Statement 2 is correct: The ninth edition of Joint Military exercise “Exercise MITRA SHAKTI-2023” commenced in Aundh (Pune). * Statement 3 is correct: The Scope of the exercise includes synergizing joint responses during counter-terrorist operations. * Statement 4 is correct: 15 personnel from Indian Air Force and five personnel from Sri Lankan Air Force participated in the exercise.
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I :Israel has established diplomatic relations with some Arab States.
Statement-II :The 'Arab Peace Initiative' Mediated by Saudi Arabia was signed by Israel and Arab League.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement I is correct: Several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan, have established diplomatic relations with Israel. * Statement II is incorrect: The Arab Peace Initiative, mediated by Saudi Arabia, was endorsed by the Arab League but not signed by Israel. It outlines a path towards peace in exchange for Israeli concessions, but Israel has not formally accepted all its terms.
Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue which Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?
Senkaku Islands are a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. Japan and China claim the uninhabited islands, known as the Senkaku in Japan and Tiaoyu in China, as their own, but Japan has administered them since 1972.