ALERT: USAF Buildup at Diego Garcia

Several sources are reporting a significant buildup of USAF aircraft at Diego Garcia. As the ‘Defence One’ website indicates: “Diego Garcia has long played a crucial role in U.S. strategic bomber operations, having hosted B-52 and B-1 missions during the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Its remote location and long runway make it a key forward operating base for long-range operations, especially when regional basing options are constrained by diplomatic or security concerns.” In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), the account @ianellisjones, shared the following graphic, indicating the deployment of six B2 Stealth ‘Spirit Bombers’ and other aircraft [read post here]:

In addition to the increased deployments at Diego Garcia, a second US Navy ‘Carrier Strike Group’ – the Carl Vinson – is en route to the Middle East where it will join the Harry Truman CSG which has taken part the recent significant attacks on Yemen.

The Middle East Eye website states that Diego Garica is the base “the US may use if it decides to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities is a speck of an island in the Indian Ocean that few associate with the Middle East but that the US has used for decades to project military power in the region” and reports the following statement from US President, Donald Trump: “My big preference - and I don't say this through strength or weakness - my big preference is, we work it out with Iran. But if we don't work it out, bad, bad things are going to happen to Iran.” The same story records the response from Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, to calls for a resumption of direct nuclear talks with the US: Iran is “firm on not engaging in direct negotiations under maximum pressure and military threats”. The US has chosen to increase pressure and raise the military threat.

After international court rulings and a public campaign for justice, the British Government finally agreed to return the Chagos Islands (which Britain calls the ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’), of which Diego Garcia is part, to Mauritius. However, part of the deal – which has not yet been finalised and is mired in controversy in several directions – allows for an initial ‘99-year lease’ of the airbase. The United States agreed a 50-year lease (with the right to extend for a further 20 years) with the British government in 1966. The exact terms of this deal, which expires in 2036, are secret.

There is every indication that the United States intends to attack Iran. There is every indication that – as in the recent past – Diego Garcia will be the launch site for any such attack. It is clear that the nuclear status of Iran (which is not a nuclear power) will be used as a pretext for any such attack. To summarise: two nuclear-armed NATO member states, both parties to the NPT, look to be colluding to prepare an attack on a non-nuclear armed state, also a party to the NPT. Meanwhile, nuclear-armed Israel – which is not a party to the NPT and which refuses to confirm its nuclear status – is carrying out a genocide on Palestine. The difference? The US and UK are “allies” of Israel.

This nuclear hypocrisy and gross double-standards should be exposed. So should the collusion, secrecy and realities of the ‘special relationship’ between the US and Britain on Diego Garcia and elsewhere. The anti-nuclear, peace and anti-war movements must urgently demand ‘Don’t Attack Iran’.