Diego Garcia is strategically significant because of its central location in the Indian Ocean and 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 (1990β91), U.S.-led strikes on Afghanistan (2001), and the initial phase of the Iraq War (2003). Its position has made it an important hub for projecting military power across the Middle East, South Asia, and East Africa.
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