archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility
BIOT was established as a territory of the United Kingdom on November 8, 1965, consisting of Chagos Archipelago, Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches (Des Roches) islands.
The territory is a possession of the United Kingdom administered by a commissioner, who is resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London.
As a territory of the United Kingdom, its head of state is Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, and the head of government is Commissioner Tony Crombie (since January 2004, replacing David Ross MacLennan) and Administrator Tony Humphries (since February 2005, replacing Charles A. Hamilton), all of whom reside in the UK.
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