Described as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier,” Diego Garcia has previously been used to launch strike missions in both Gulf Wars and the invasion of Afghanistan. The site is also home to a small British military contingent, including personnel from the Royal Navy and Marines, who also act as the islands’ civil administration. To make way for the U.S. military presence, London expelled the inhabitants of the islands between 1968 and 1973, with around 1,800 Chagossians forced to leave their homes. At the same time, the UK Ministry of Defence has indicated a desire to rebuild its presence “East of Suez,” including through investments in new bases in the Persian Gulf and South-East Asia, and maintenance of the permanent UK military presence on Diego Garcia. The Chagos Islands, then, remain a vital strategic anchor for the United States and UK military in the Indian Ocean—uniquely positioned to support power projection within the region and further afield.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 01, 2019 00:33 UTC