British Indian Ocean Territory

BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY

A. THE TERRITORY

The British Indian Ocean Territory is mainly the Chagos Archipelago in
the central Indian Ocean, comprised of 55 islands.  The U.S. has an
exclusive military lease of the island from the U.K. government, which
administers the territory.  To allow for the military base, the original
islanders were removed to Mauritius and financial compensation paid.
U.K. has not yet granted the islanders the right of return to their
traditional homelands.

B. THE PEOPLE

The population is ~2,000.  There is ~4,000 U.S. and U.K. military
personnel as well as civilian contractors.

Donna Siemens

References:

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.