Does Indian Ocean belong to India?

@Aliveshock No it isn't. The middles of oceans are international waters. If there any island nations within it they have their own maritime territorial limits and rights.

@ArishMell
My goodness no need for the huff my elder gentleman. Let me explain so that you understand. Consider the Chagos Archipelago and rethink your response.
I’ll forgive your brashness.

@Aliveshock I am sorry if you thought me "brash". That's certainly not intention.

I am well aware of the Chagos Islands, which were UK territory on which the UK allowed or were coerced by the USA to build a USAAF base there without caring about the islanders; but that's not the same as owning the middle of the ocean.

It is a thorny issue because the US military property there makes it difficult for Britain to hand the islands back to their real owners.

As for the reference to my age, what's the point of that?

@ArishMell
Islanders there!
🙂
I would have to take a guess you haven’t been there.
The only natives are chickens and cats ancient one!

@Aliveshock There used to be people living there on the particular island..... They were evicted merely to suit the Pentagon.

Though a British dependency a past UK Government had allowed the US to build a military base there, making returning the territoty to its rightful owners, far harder.

Negotiations over the islands were delayed by the change of President in the USA, and as far as I know the qiestion is still open on whether USA will close it base or enter into some new agreement with the archpelago's inhabitants.

@ArishMell Nice try at making up a “believable” story but that wasn’t what happened on the main island. Great Britain has been there since 1814 and the U.S. didn’t do imperialistic ventures that early in its history.

Insults won;'t help anyone.

I have never said the Chagos Islands were not British territory prior to the UK allowing the USA to build a military base there.

I said the existence of that third country's base is obstructing handing the territory back to Mauritius.

My view is that the UK should negotiate the islands' return with Mauritius alone - not "and the US", just Mauritius, beyond keeping the US Government informed. Then let Mauritius decide to let the Americans stay or ask them to leave.

I don't know what income either Mauritius or the UK receives as landlords. If any.

The risk is that the People's Republic of China would likely try to move in if the USA leaves, and that won't help even the locals. China, in her present form at least, is very unlikely ever to return the territory, too.


The USA didn't do imperialist adventures in 1814.... I know it didn't. Nor since in a land-grab way, notwithstanding its present President's rather strange foreign policy statements. The USA has never tried to commandeer other nations' lands, but it has always tried to control them, to take over their industries and to impose its own culture on everyone else. Including, in 1814, on the real North Americans.

Just as Britain, France, Spain, Holland, etc. did in the 17-19Cs - the difference being those were territorial empires as well, and by and large, those nations have long since let the locals have their lands back..

@ArishMell I am letting you know that I was there and there were not any natives in residence…zero. P

@Aliveshock On that particular island? What of the rest? Was the island inhabited before the base was built, and if not now, why not?

From today's PA report sumarised in my local paper the UK government does not want the base to close but is prepared to hand the island back to Mauritius (and should under international law) but along with the US, lease the base from that country.

I don't know if the land is already under lease but that would at least give Mauritius an income from it, and would be right morally.