The islands, named after a Spanish navigator, have a basically symbolic British presence. The United Kingdom hands over the Chagos archipelago (and the massive US base on Diego Garcia island) to Mauritius (and to the Chinese fishing fleet).

The UK has signed a 99-year agreement with Mauritius to retain operational control of the Diego Garcia base, a key UK-US defense hub in the Indian Ocean.

The Air Force has deployed F-15 fighter jets for a force protection mission on Diego Garcia, Pacific Air Forces confirmed this week. The strategically important island in the Indian Ocean has served as a base for U.

The U.S. deployed B-52 bombers to Diego Garcia as a signal to Iran that America may commit to force if diplomacy fails. Their presence underscores deterrence despite halted Houthi bombing operations.

The U.S. Air Force has increased the number of F-15s sent to Diego Garcia to provide force protection, a U.S. defense official has confirmed to The War Zone. During America’s accelerated bombing campaign of the Houthis in Yemen,

Armed forces minister Luke Pollard faced questions about the Government’s estimation of the full cost. Diego Garcia, the largest of the Chagos Islands, is home to a military base (John Parker/ Sylvia Cordaiy Photo Library Ltd /Alamy/PA) A minister has said the US will be paying “many multiples more” to operate the Diego Garcia military base than the UK will pay to lease it under the Chagos deal,

The agreement would see Britain hand back the Indian Ocean archipelago to its former colony and pay to lease a key US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island.