INTELLIGENCE // DOSSIER // IO // 2025
British Indian Ocean Territory
Intelligence Dossier — ICD 203/208 Format — (OTHER)
Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF)
British Indian Ocean Territory is a name: administered from London; often regarded as being on Diego Garcia geographic coordinates: 7 18S, 12 24E time difference: UTC+6 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Population: total: no permanent inhabitants note: Diego Garcia, the largest of the 58 islands, hosts a joint UK-.
British Indian Ocean Territory is a name: administered from London; often regarded as being on Diego Garcia geographic coordinates: 7 18S, 12 24E time difference: UTC+6 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). Population: total: no permanent inhabitants note: Diego Garcia, the largest of the 58 islands, hosts a joint UK-.
Government & Political
Capital
HIGH
name: administered from London; often regarded as being on Diego Garcia geographic coordinates: 7 18S, 12 24E time difference: UTC+6 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Executive branch
HIGH
chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022) head of government: Commissioner Nishi DHOLAKIA (since 16 December 2024); Administrator Bob FAIRWEATHER; both reside in the UK and are represented by Commander Andrew WILLIAMS, RN, the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia (since January 2025) cabinet: NA election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
Constitution
HIGH
history: British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004
International organization participation
HIGH
UPU
Military & Security
Military and security forces
HIGH
no regular military forces
Military - note
HIGH
defense is the responsibility of the UK; on 22 May 2025, the United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement that will lead to the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius; under the agreement, the United Kingdom will lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for 99 years and maintain full operational control of the joint UK-US military base
Demographics
Population
HIGH
total: no permanent inhabitants note: Diego Garcia, the largest of the 58 islands, hosts a joint UK-US military facility
Energy & Resources
Natural resources
HIGH
coconuts, fish, sugarcane
Infrastructure
Airports
HIGH
1 (2025)
Classification
OPEN SOURCE. Data from CIA World Factbook 2025 edition (public domain). Assessment formatted per ICD 203 Analytic Standards and ICD 208 guidance. Confidence levels: HIGH = current year data, MODERATE = within 2 years, LOW = older than 2 years.
Full Sources & Methodology →
OPEN SOURCE. Data from CIA World Factbook 2025 edition (public domain). Assessment formatted per ICD 203 Analytic Standards and ICD 208 guidance. Confidence levels: HIGH = current year data, MODERATE = within 2 years, LOW = older than 2 years.
Full Sources & Methodology →