# Diego Garcia
Latest news and articles about Diego Garcia
Total: 13 articles found
US Bombers at RAF Fairford Load JDAMs, Signalling Readiness to Strike Hardened Targets in Iran
Video from RAF Fairford shows US B‑1B bombers being prepared with Launcher Load Frames removed and staged JASSMs and GBU‑31(V)3/B JDAMs, indicating readiness to use bomber‑dropped penetrator munitions against hardened Iranian targets. The concentration of up to 15 US bombers in Britain and authorisation for US use of Diego Garcia broaden strike options, but air‑defence risks and political constraints limit where and how forces may operate.
Trump Lambasts Starmer as Britain Puts Carrier on Standby for Middle East
Donald Trump publicly criticised UK prime minister Keir Starmer for not immediately supporting US strikes on Iran, as Britain signals it may deploy an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. London authorised limited US use of RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia while keeping the HMS Prince of Wales at high readiness, underscoring tensions between alliance signalling and domestic political caution.
Pentagon Warns of Sharp Increase in Strikes Over Tehran as Munitions Strain Forces
U.S. Defense Secretary Hegesse announced a planned sharp increase in strikes over Tehran while acknowledging shortages in key munitions that limit a sustained campaign. The Pentagon is expanding deployments and using overseas bases including Diego Garcia, highlighting the operational dependence on allied support and the risk of wider regional escalation.
UK Says It Won’t Rule Out Joining Strikes on Iran’s Missile Sites, Reopening Diego Garcia Debate
British officials say London has not ruled out joining strikes on Iranian ballistic-missile launchers, while US heavy bombers are reported to be headed to Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford. The development revives legal and diplomatic controversy over use of the Chagos base and increases the risk of wider escalation with Tehran.
Trump Publicly Rebukes Starmer, Exposes Strain in US–UK Ties Over Diego Garcia and Iran Strike Access
President Trump publicly criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially refusing U.S. use of the Diego Garcia base and for what he called mishandling of the Chagos sovereignty transfer, saying US‑UK relations are no longer what they once were. Starmer defended his stance as governed by law and Britain’s national interest after London agreed to allow limited defensive use of the base.
Starmer Defends Decision on Iran Strikes After Public Rebuke from Trump, Raising Questions over Basing and the Special Relationship
President Trump publicly expressed displeasure with UK prime minister Keir Starmer over Britain's role in recent actions against Iran. Starmer defended his choice as driven by legal obligations and the national interest, while the row highlights tensions over basing rights and coalition warfare between close allies.
Trump Rebukes Starmer Over Diego Garcia, Exposes Friction in US‑UK Military Coordination
President Trump publicly criticised UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for initially blocking U.S. use of the Diego Garcia base to strike Iran, calling the delay "very disappointing." The episode highlights legal and operational complications from the 2025 transfer of Chagos sovereignty to Mauritius and underscores strains in crisis coordination between Washington and London.
U.S. and Israel Mount Largest Sea‑Air Posture in Decades as Explosions Rock Tehran
Explosions in Tehran on 28 February preceded Israeli claims of a joint U.S.-Israeli "preventive" strike, while Washington has concentrated the largest U.S. sea and air force presence in the region since 2003. The mobilization — carrier groups, stealth fighters, tanker relocations and a new loitering‑munitions task force — raises the stakes and the risk of wider regional war and economic disruption.
A New Middle East War Edges Closer: Chinese Commentary Warns of Imminent U.S.–Israeli Strike on Iran
A Chinese op-ed warns that a large-scale U.S.–Israeli strike on Iran could be imminent after negotiations stalled, citing elevated military postures and preparations on all sides. The commentary stresses the risk of a protracted regional conflict—drawing in proxies, disrupting oil flows and challenging global stability—while urging China to value and protect its peace and interests.
Trump Reconsiders, Clearing Way for UK Return of Chagos Sovereignty — with Guarantees for Diego Garcia
Donald Trump has reportedly reversed his opposition to a 2025 agreement under which Britain transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after UK and U.S. officials secured new assurances on the continued operation of the Diego Garcia military base. The development preserves a key U.S. outpost in the Indian Ocean while reopening questions about colonial-era dispossession, legal exposure and alliance management.
US Carrier Strike Group Moves into Indian Ocean as Tensions with Iran Rise
The United States has moved the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group into the Indian Ocean and increased air and missile‑defence assets in the broader Middle East theatre as a hedge against possible Iranian actions. While imagery shows no massive buildup on strategic bases such as Diego Garcia, transport flights and defensive deployments signal sustained readiness, even as political rhetoric on both sides heightens the risk of miscalculation.
US Carrier Strike Group Moves Into Indian Ocean as Tensions With Iran Persist
The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group has entered the Indian Ocean as part of a wider US military buildup aimed at deterring Iran, accompanied by transport and refuelling aircraft and augmented missile-defence systems. The deployment signals deterrence and operational flexibility but carries risks of miscalculation amid sharp rhetoric from Tehran and continued political tension.