Alice Cuddy
senior international reporter

Part of the Chagos archipelago and home to a sensitive British and American military base, Diego Garcia is one of the most restricted places in the world.

There are no commercial flights, and getting there by sea is not easy. Boat permits are granted only to the outer islands of this archipelago to allow safe passage through the Indian Ocean.

Permits are required to enter the island, which are only given to military installations and people with ties to the British authorities that control the territory. Journalists have historically been banned.

In September 2024, I gained unprecedented access to the island, albeit under severe restrictions.

The island has amazing natural beauty, from lush vegetation to pristine white beaches.

The territory is administered from London, but most of its personnel and resources are under US control.

As it takes to the runway alongside gray military planes, a sign in the hangar reads “Diego Garcia. Footsteps of Freedom” above a photo of the American and British flags.

Across the island, American and British influence vie for supremacy.

There are British police cars, a nightclub called the Brit Club, and roads with names like Britannia Way and Churchill Road.

However, just like in the United States, cars drive on the right, the US dollar is accepted as currency, and electrical outlets are American-style.

The most sensitive military areas are strictly off-limits.

image source, Getty Images