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British Indian Ocean Territory, archipelago, c.1,180 mi (1,900 km), NE of Mauritius, in the central Indian Ocean. The islands, which form the Chagos Archipelago and are located on the southern end of a chain of sea mounts that also includes Lakshadweep and the Maldives, were administered by Mauritius before they became a British dependency in 1965. Their importance is strategic; the United States and Britain maintain a major naval facility on the main island, Diego Garcia. The archipelago is claimed by the Maldives and Seychelles.
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