Iran conflict elevates Diego Garcia's role as US base called 'integral'

The ongoing war with Iran has thrown a

The ongoing war with Iran has thrown a spotlight on Diego Garcia, with a senior figure from the self-proclaimed Chagossian government-in-exile insisting the remote Indian Ocean outpost remains vital for American forces and broader Middle East security. The comments come after the Pentagon redirected its logistics operations to the joint U.K.-U.S. facility following an Iranian assault on a key American installation in Bahrain.

Situated in the southern Chagos Archipelago, the base has reportedly played a supporting role for carrier strike groups, including the USS Abraham Lincoln, which has carried out air missions and helped enforce a blockade on Iranian ports. According to The New York Times, the U.S. military's wartime supply chain now relies on a sea route stretching roughly 2,200 miles to Diego Garcia, a shift that avoids coastal sites vulnerable to Iranian strikes but demands longer transit times and slower resupply efforts.

James Tumbridge, an international lawyer serving as attorney general for the Chagossian government-in-exile, told Fox News Digital that the adjustment is a small price for security. "That is an inconvenience, but it shows the importance of the base," he said. "The base is integral to regional security for the U.K., U.S. and our allies. This latest news emphasizes it." He added that moving supply operations away from Bahrain makes strategic sense, noting, "Hopefully the new British PM will not deny the U.S. this change of use."

The renewed focus on Diego Garcia comes amid

The renewed focus on Diego Garcia comes amid a contentious sovereignty debate. In 2025, the U.K. and Mauritius signed a treaty recognizing Mauritian control over the Chagos Archipelago while allowing Britain to keep authority over Diego Garcia for an initial 99 years. However, London paused implementation after Washington voiced concerns, and reports in June suggested U.S. officials had considered bypassing the U.K. entirely to secure the base, a move Tumbridge cautioned against.

"Trump cannot buy the islands. That suggestion made by some is unhelpful to us all. Only the U.K. can sell the islands, as only the U.K. owns them," Tumbridge said. He stressed that sovereignty disputes won't be resolved through a sale, adding, "It is not in the U.K.'s interest to sell them. Whether we keep them and continue our support for the U.S. base or we cede them to Mauritius is the choice — my desire is the former." Mauritius has long staked its claim, backed by a 2019 International Court of Justice advisory opinion and subsequent U.N. resolutions.

Tumbridge also referenced recent threats to the base, noting that Iran fired two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia in March. One missile failed mid-flight, while a U.S. warship intercepted the other. "No serious concerns have been shared — the earlier attempt showed a lack of range and targeting ability," he said, dismissing suggestions that the attack rendered the islands unsafe, especially given their tiny population of just six people.

The spotlight on Diego Garcia coincides with signs

The spotlight on Diego Garcia coincides with signs of strain on U.S. naval assets. The USS Abraham Lincoln has approached nine months of continuous deployment, prompting public worries from crew families. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews on Aug. 14, President Trump said a replacement carrier was en route to the Middle East, asserting, "That ship is moving." Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, has also visited the carrier as it awaits relief. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pentagon for further comment.