US Secures 99-Year Rent-Free Access To Strategic Naval Base At Diego Garcia

The United States is all set to secure long-term, rent free access to Diego Garcia, a remote military base in the Indian Ocean, under a treaty that is close to being finalised between Mauritius and the United Kingdom.

The agreement allows US forces to use the island for the next 99 years without paying rent.

The draft treaty received approval from the US President Donald Trump, with the announcement made on April 1. Both the UK and Mauritius have shown eagerness to wrap up the deal soon.

However, the agreement has stirred political controversy in Britain.

The Reform Party, which has recently outpaced both the ruling Labour Party and the Conservative opposition in public opinion polls, voiced strong objections.

On April 6, Deputy Leader Richard Tice stated during a television interview that the Reform Party would cancel the treaty if it came to power.

He criticised the deal for offering free access to the US and argued that Mauritius had already accepted payment in 1965 when it agreed to give up future claims to the Chagos Islands, where Diego Garcia is located.

Meanwhile, US is ramping up military operations on Diego Garcia. Analysts using satellite imagery recently spotted B-2 Spirit stealth bombers being armed on the runway.

These aircraft are believed to be part of ongoing airstrikes against Houthi forces in Yemen.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) is moving toward the Chagos region to strengthen air defense systems.

The ship had passed westward through the Malacca Strait, and by April 3, was sailing in the Indian Ocean.

Amid these military developments, Iran has begun reviewing plans for a possible pre-emptive strike on Diego Garcia.

Sources quoted in British media revealed that Iranian military leaders are considering such a move due to the recent US military buildup.

The reports also mention that Diego Garcia now hosts about seven B-2 bombers, roughly one-third of America’s total fleet of these advanced aircraft.

US President Trump has taken a strong stance against Iran’s nuclear activities. He has warned that if Iran fails to reach a deal, there will be bombing “the likes of which they have never seen before.”

The large number of bombers now deployed to Diego Garcia suggests that the US could be preparing for military action, or possibly using the deployment as a strong warning to Iranian leadership.

These stealth bombers, often referred to as “ghosts of the sky” are designed to avoid even the most advanced air defense systems.

Experts believe the deployment sends a direct message to Iran. A retired US Air Force colonel, cited in news coverage, said the move is aimed to pressurise Iran to either reduce its support for the Houthis in Yemen or return to nuclear talks.

Per reports, a senior Iranian official stating that military commanders have been asked to consider targeting Diego Garcia as a way to deter an attack on Iran.

Diego Garcia was believed to be well out of reach of enemy attacks due to its remote location. The island lies in the middle of the Indian Ocean, around 1,960 kilometers southwest of Thiruvananthapuram, India, and about 3,500 kilometers east of Tanzania.

Reference: Telegraph India

Source: Maritime Shipping News