World War II in Europe erupted on September 1, 1939. America remained officially neutral but wanted to find a way to support WWI ally Great Britain, who was facing intense German bombings and naval blockades. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt devised the Destroyers for Bases Agreement as a way to provide much-needed support to Britain without directly entering the war.
Shared enmity toward Franklin D. Roosevelt's United States of America is what brought Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan together again in the fight against the Allies. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was a significant step in strengthening the Allied forces and countering the Axis powers.
The fact historically and today is that the United States is much stronger with robust allies. The AUKUS agreement, like the 1941 Lend-Lease program, showcases the importance of international alliances in maintaining peace and security.
The Destroyers for Bases Agreement involved the United States exchanging 50 old destroyers from World War I for lease rights to British bases in the Caribbean and Newfoundland. This strategic move allowed the British Royal Navy to better protect its vital sea lanes and naval operations.
The story of the lend-lease program and the USSR participation in it, told in archival photos from World War II, exemplifies the collaborative efforts of Allied nations in fighting against the Axis powers. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was another example of this cooperation.
A president giving a commencement address is commonplace. A president giving a commencement address when his child is a member of the graduating class is unprecedented. President Roosevelt's son, James Roosevelt, was among the graduates at the commencement ceremony where the Destroyers for Bases Agreement was announced.
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King guided the country through six painful years of conflict, oversaw a massive war effort and made crucial decisions to support the Allied forces. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement was a pivotal moment in Canada's involvement in World War II.
Three-quarters of a century ago, Bermuda found itself at the crux of a landmark agreement between our closest allies, one that catapulted us into the global stage of World War II. The Destroyers for Bases Agreement solidified Bermuda's strategic importance in supporting the Allied forces.
