TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 02-618 

________________________________________________________________________ 

DEFENSE 

Bases 

 Agreement between the 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

and the UNITED KINGDOM OF 

GREAT BRITAIN AND 

NORTHERN IRELAND 

Effected by Exchange of Notes at 

Washington June 18, 2002 

 with 

Annexes 
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966 

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued 

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent 

 evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than 

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and 

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime 

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the 

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof 

or authentication thereof.” 
UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN 

AND NORTHERN IRELAND 

Defense: Bases 

Agreement effected by exchange of notes at 

 Washington June 18, 2002; 

 Entered into force June 18, 2002. 

 With annexes. 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE

WASHINGTON

June 18, 2002

Excellency:

I have the honor to refer to the Agreement between the

Government of the United States of America and the Government of

the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland relating

to the bases leased to the United States of America, and related

exchanges of notes, done at London March 27, 1941, as amended and

supplemented by the instruments listed in Annex 1 to this note

(hereinafter collectively referred to as "the 1941 Agreement"),

and to the related lease and other arrangements regarding the

establishment, use, operation and defense of United States bases

on Bermuda.

Discussions between representatives of our two Governments

have established that the . United States has no further need for

His Excellency

Sir Christopher Meyer, K.C.M.G.,

Ambassador of the United Kingdom

of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

DIPLOMATIC NOTE
any leased areas on Bermuda that were made available to the

United States under the 1941 Agreement. As a result of these

discussions, and the Government of the United Kingdom having

consulted the Government of Bermuda, I have the further honor to

propose the following, which will result in the return of all

such leased areas to the Government of the United Kingdom for the

benefit of the Government of Bermuda.

1. The Government of the United States of America hereby

gives notice of its intention to abandon all leased

areas in Bermuda subject to the 1941 Agreement in

accordance with Article XXI of the 1941 Agreement.

Notwithstanding the one-year minimum notice requirement

provided for by that Article, I propose that this

notice of abandonment shall become effective upon the

date of your Excellency's confirming reply to this

note.

2. The Government of the United States of America hereby

renounces its right to reoccupy any leased areas in

Bermuda under the 1941 Agreement.

3. The 1941 Agreement (including the instruments amending

and supplementing it listed in Annex 1 to this note) is

hereby terminated with respect to the United States and

the United Kingdom. As a consequence thereof, the

Government of the United States of America confirms
that the related lease and other arrangements concluded

with the Government of Bermuda including those listed

in Annex 2 to this note are also terminated.

4. The Government of the United Kingdom shall extend to

Bermuda the Agreement Between the Parties to the North

Atlantic Treaty regarding the Status of Their Forces,

done at London on June 19, 1951, in accordance with

Article XX of that Agreement, and shall provisionally

apply that Agreement in Bermuda until the notification

of its extension to Bermuda takes effect on 18 July

2002 in accordance with the said Article XX.

5. The Government of the United States of America will pay

the Government of the United Kingdom, for the benefit

of the Government of Bermuda, the sum of eleven million

U.S. dollars ($11,000,000) in consideration of the

termination of all obligations relating to the

maintenance and repair of the Longbird Bridge under and

pursuant to the 1941 Agreement, including the Exchange

of Notes of 5/6 December 1978 referred to in Annex 1 to

this note and the related lease and other arrangements

regarding the establishment, use, operation and defense

of United States bases on Bermuda.

6. The Government of the United States of America and the

Government of the United Kingdom hereby waive the right
to pursue any and all claims related to the leased

areas in Bermuda under the 1941 Agreement.

If the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government

of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, I

have the honor to propose that this note, including Annexes 1

and 2, together with Your Excellency's affirmative reply, shall

constitute an agreement between our Governments which will enter

into force upon the date of Your Excellency's reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest

consideration.

For the Secretary of State:

e 6‘.,/wa
ANNEX 1

1. Exchange of Notes concerning the free importation of goods

into the leased bases in Bermuda, in the Caribbean and in

British Guiana, Washington, 18 January/21 February 1946.

2. Agreement concerning the Opening of Certain Military Bases in

the Caribbean Area and Bermuda to use by Civil Aircraft, and

related exchanges of notes, Washington, 24 February 1948.

3. Exchange of Notes modifying the Leased Bases Agreement of

27 March 1941, Washington, 19 July/1 August 1950.

4. Exchange of Notes concerning the Designation of an Appropriate

Area within the Boundaries of the United States Kindley Air

Force Base in Bermuda for the provision of Civil Airport

Facilities, Washington, 23 March/25 April 1951.

5. Exchange of Notes extending the area of the Civil Air Terminal

in Bermuda, Washington, 25 May 1960.

6. Exchange of Notes concerning.the Establishment, for Scientific

Purposes, of a Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications

Station in Bermuda, Washington, 15 March 1961.

7. Exchange of Notes extending the Agreement of March 1961

concerning the Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications

Station in Bermuda, London, 23 September 1963.

Exchange of Notes further modifying the Agreements of 15 March

1961 and 23 September 1963 concerning the Space Vehicle

Tracking and Communications Station in Bermuda, London,

17 January 1968.

9. Exchange of Notes regarding additional Civil Airport

Facilities at the United States Kindley Air Force Base,

Bermuda, London, 4 June 1968.

10. Exchange of Notes regarding a proposed Road through the United

States Naval Air Station, Bermuda, London, 28 January 1971.

11. Exchange of Notes amending and supplementing the Agreement of

27 March 1941, as amended, regarding leased Naval and Air

Bases on Bermuda, Washington, 5/6 December 1978.

12. Exchange of Notes further amending and supplementing the

Agreement of 27 March 1941, as amended, regarding Leased Naval

and Air Bases on Bermuda, Washington, 7 March 1985.
ANNEX 2

1. Agreement of Sublease dated 29 December 1978.

2. Agreement of Sublease dated 25 February 1980.

3. Agreement for Right of Way dated 5 March 1982.

4. Memorandum of Understanding dated 24 August/14 September 1983.

5. Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding dated 8 March 1984.

6. Agreement of Sublease dated 30 November 1984.

7. Exchange of Letters of 20 March/21 May 1985.
British Embassy

Washington, D.C.

18 June 2002

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Note of 18 June 2002 which reads as

follows:

Excellency:

I have the honor to refer to the Agreement between the Government of the United

States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and

Northern Ireland relating to the bases leased to the United States of America, and related

exchanges of notes, done at London March 27, 1941, as amended and supplemented by

the instruments listed in Annex 1 to this note (hereinafter collectively referred to as "the

1941 Agreement"), and to the related lease and other arrangements regarding the

establishment, use, operation and defense of United States bases on Bermuda.

Discussions between representatives of our two Governments have established

that the United States has no further need for any leased areas on Bermuda that were

made available to the United States under the 1941 Agreement. As a result of these

discussions, and the Government of the United Kingdom having consulted the

Government of Bermuda, I have the further honor to propose the following, which will

result in the return of all such leased areas to the Government of the United Kingdom for

the benefit of the Government of Bermuda.

1. The Government of the United States of America hereby gives notice of its

intention to abandon all leased areas in Bermuda subject to the 1941

Agreement in accordance with Article XXI of the 1941 Agreement.

Notwithstanding the one-year minimum notice requirement provided for by

that Article, I propose that this notice of abandonment shall become effective

upon the date of your Excellency's confirming reply to this note.

2. The Government of the United States of America hereby renounces its right to

reoccupy any leased areas in Bermuda under the 1941 Agreement.

The 1941 Agreement (including the instruments amending and supplementing

it listed in Annex 1 to this note) is hereby terminated with respect to the

United States and the United Kingdom. As a consequence thereof, the

Government of the United States of America confirms that the related lease
and other arrangements concluded with the Government of Bermuda

including those listed in Annex 2 to this note are also terminated.

4. The Government of the United Kingdom shall extend to Bermuda the

Agreement Between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty regarding the

Status of Their Forces, done at London on June 19, 1951, in accordance with

Article XX of that Agreement, and shall provisionally apply that Agreement

in Bermuda until the notification of its extension to Bermuda takes effect on

18 July 2002 in accordance with the said Article XX.

5. The Government of the United States of America will pay the Government of

the United Kingdom, for the benefit of the Government of Bermuda, the sum

of eleven million U.S. dollars ($11,000,000) in consideration of the

termination of all obligations relating to the maintenance and repair of the

Longbird Bridge under and pursuant to the 1941 Agreement, including the

Exchange of Notes of 5/6 December 1978 referred to in Annex 1 to this note

and the related lease and other arrangements regarding the establishment, use,

operation and defense of United States bases on Bermuda.

6. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of the

United Kingdom hereby waive the right to pursue any and all claims related to

the leased areas in Bermuda under the 1941 Agreement.

If the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government of the United

Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, I have the honor to propose that this

note, including Annexes 1 and 2, together with Your Excellency's affirmative reply, shall

constitute an agreement between our Governments which will enter into force upon the

date of Your Excellency's reply.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

For the Secretary of State:

I have the honour to inform you that the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the

Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which has

consulted the Government of Bermuda on this matter. The Government of the United

Kingdom therefore agrees that your Note, together with is annexes, and the present reply,

shall constitute an agreement between our Governments in this matter, which shall enter

into force on the date of the present reply.
I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you the assurances of my highest

consideration.

L<IA/ 'Ll 1741

H M Ambassador

Secretary of State

of the United States of America

Washington, D.C.
ANNEX 1

1. Exchange of Notes concerning the free importation of goods into the leased bases in

Bermuda, in the Caribbean and in British Guiana, Washington, 18 January/21 February 1946.

2. Agreement concerning the Opening of Certain Military Bases in the Caribbean Area and

Bermuda to use by Civil Aircraft, and related exchanges of notes, Washington, 24 February

1948.

3. Exchange of Notes modifying the Leased Bases Agreement of 27 March 1941, Washington,

19 July/1 August 1950.

4. Exchange of Notes concerning the Designation of an Appropriate Area within the Boundaries

of the United States Kindley Air Force Base in Bermuda for the provision of Civil Airport

Facilities, Washington, 23 March/25 April 1951.

5. Exchange of Notes extending the area of the Civil Air Terminal in Bermuda, Washington, 25

May 1960.

6. Exchange of Notes concerning the Establishment, for Scientific Purposes, of a Space Vehicle

Tracking and Communications Station in Bermuda, Washington, 15 March 1961.

7. Exchange of Notes extending the Agreement of March 1961 concerning the Space Vehicle

Tracking and Communications Station in Bermuda, London, 23 September 1963.

8. Exchange of Notes further modifying the Agreements of 15 March 1961 and 23 September

1963 concerning the Space Vehicle Tracking and Communications Station in Bermuda,

London, 17 January 1968.

9. Exchange of Notes regarding additional Civil Airport Facilities at the Untied States Kindley

Air Force Base, Bermuda, London, 4 June 1968.

10.Exchange of Notes regarding a proposed Road through the United States Naval Air Station,

Bermuda, London, 28 January 1971.

11.Exchange of Notes amending and supplementing the Agreement of 27 March 1941, as

amended, regarding leased Naval and Air Bases on Bermuda, Washington, 5/6 December

1978.

12.Exchange of Notes further amending and supplementing the Agreement of 27 March 1941,

as amended, regarding Leased Naval and Air Bases on Bermuda, Washington, 7 March 1985.
ANNEX 2

1. Agreement of Sublease dated 29 December 1978.

2. Agreement of Sublease dated 25 February 1980.

3. Agreement for Right of Way dated 5 March 1982.

4. Memorandum of Understanding dated 24 August/14 September 1983.

5. Supplemental Memorandum of Understanding dated 8 March 1984.

6. Agreement of Sublease dated 30 November 1984.

7. Exchange of Letters of 20 March/21 May 1985.