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.

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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

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Example Sentences

Mr. Trump can still scuttle the Mauritius deal under a 1966 treaty between the U.K. and U.S. that established defensive uses for the British Indian Ocean Territory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

The future of the base, situated on a remote archipelago in the British Indian Ocean Territory, has been the subject of debate in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026

But the strategic importance of the archipelago, known officially as the British Indian Ocean Territory, has prompted criticism that the agreement will deliver a security boost to China.

From BBC • Nov. 13, 2024

The redacted email was released to the BBC by the Supreme Court of British Indian Ocean Territory this week after being opposed by the government.

From BBC • Oct. 26, 2023

British Indian Ocean Territory:   All economic activity is   concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint   UK-US defense facilities are located.

From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency