The Importance of Diego Garcia to US Strategy in the Indian Ocean

The Importance of Diego Garcia to US Strategy in the Indian Ocean

 Source: The Foreign Policy Research Institute published on 21 April 2025 an analysis titled “How the UK-Mauritius Deal on Chagos Could Reshape US Military Strategy in the Indian Ocean” by Raghvendra Kumar.  

Diego Garcia hosts a joint Anglo-American military base with a deepwater port capable of berthing aircraft carriers, a long runway that enables deep-strike operations and accommodates heavy bombers and refueling aircraft, advanced satellite communication facilities, and strategically pre-positioned military support and supplies.

The Diego Garcia base, which most recently has been used to launch airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, remains critical to US military strategy in the Indian Ocean.  It provides the strategic depth necessary to deter aggression, defend US interests, restore freedom of navigation, and secure vital sea lines of communication.   It takes on added importance as China expands its military footprint in the Indian Ocean region.