15 Indian fishermen were detained by the British Navy near Diego Garcia for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary.
This is part of a broader issue where Tamil Nadu fishermen are frequently detained by both the Sri Lankan navy and the British navy, affecting their livelihood and safety.
Diego Garcia is located in the Indian Ocean and it is the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago.
The Chagos Archipelago was once part of Mauritius but was separated in 1965 to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT).
It is administered by Britain but leased to the US in 1966 for military purposes. It became a fully operational military base in 1986.
It was a key location in the US overseas war on terror operations following al-Qaeda’s September 11 attacks on the US in 2001.
In October 2024, Britain agreed to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius but will retain sovereign rights over Diego Garcia.