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British Indian Ocean Territory

American  

noun

  1. a British colony in the Indian Ocean, consisting of the Chagos Archipelago. 76 sq. mi. (177 sq. km). Diego Garcia.


British Indian Ocean Territory British  

noun

  1. a UK Overseas Territory in the Indian Ocean: consists of the Chagos Archipelago (formerly a dependency of Mauritius) and formerly included (until 1976) Aldabra, Farquhar, and Des Roches, now administratively part of the Seychelles. Diego Garcia is an important US naval base

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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In 1965, during the heat of the Cold War, the U.K. declared the Chagos the British Indian Ocean Territory.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

The Chagos Islands - officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory - are located in the Indian Ocean and Britain has controlled them since the early 19th Century.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

Diego Garcia, located on a remote island in the British Indian Ocean Territory, is a strategic base where the U.S. hosts bombers, nuclear submarines and guided-missile destroyers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 21, 2026

The plan to cede sovereignty of the archipelago, known officially as the British Indian Ocean Territory, was announced in October 2024 after a deal was reached with former Mauritian leader Pravind Jugnauth.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2025

British Indian Ocean Territory All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where a joint UK-US military facility is located.

From The 2008 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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