The Northern Marianas and the United States Department of Defense has signed a $US21 million lease agreement for the use of Tinian as a divert airfield.
Tinian North Field, Northern Marianas, the largest US air base during World War II. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The deal will alllow the for US Air Force to use Tinian as an alternative landing site for its planes in case Anderson Air Force Base in Guam is inaccessible due to war or calamities.
The CNMI governor, Ralph Torres, said the deal is historic for the people of Tinian and the entire CNMI.
He said the lease agreement would directly benefit both the people of Tinian and the entire CNMI, and their military partners.
The $US21 million lease agreement is apart from the $US375 million the U.S. military has committed to Tinian to improve the airport.
The US military has leased two-thirds of Tinian since the 1970s.