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A representative of the Chagossian government-in-exile underscored Diego Garcia’s critical role in American military operations Sunday, citing the Iranian strike on a U.S. installation in Bahrain as evidence of the remote Indian Ocean base’s indispensability. The Pentagon has reorganized its supply network across a roughly 2,200-mile maritime corridor to the base, bypassing more vulnerable coastal facilities, according to reporting by The New York Times.
James Tumbridge, serving as attorney general for the Chagossian government-in-exile, told Fox News Digital that the base remains integral to regional security for American and allied forces. He emphasized that the logistical shift, while demanding longer resupply missions, validates the installation’s importance and raises questions about allowing other nations to dictate its future use.
A 2025 treaty between Britain and Mauritius would grant Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago while permitting the U.K. to operate Diego Garcia for 99 years. The British government halted implementation following renewed American concerns, with reports emerging in June that U.S. officials had explored alternative arrangements to retain control of the base.
Tumbridge rejected suggestions that the Trump administration might purchase the islands, stating only Britain holds authority to sell them. He argued that sovereignty disputes cannot be resolved through transactions and expressed hope that strategic considerations would prompt Britain to maintain its current arrangement with Washington.
On March 20, Iran fired two ballistic missiles at Diego Garcia, with one failing mid-flight and the other intercepted by a U.S. warship, according to Reuters. Tumbridge dismissed security concerns, noting the outer islands house merely six residents and Iran demonstrated limited targeting capability.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has approached nine months of continuous deployment in the region. President Trump announced Aug. 14 that a replacement aircraft carrier would arrive in the Middle East, as Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, addressed concerns among military families regarding the extended deployment.
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