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What is the significance of Diego Garcia?

Diego Garcia is a coral atoll, the largest and southernmost member of the Chagos Archipelago, and is strategically significant because of its role as a major military base operated by the United States and the United Kingdom. Developed during the Cold War, the base provides air and naval support facilities that have been used in major military operations, including the Persian Gulf War (1990–91), U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan (2001), and the initial phase of the Iraq War (2003).