Modern Tuvalu

Modern Tuvalu

In 1971 the Gilbert & Ellice Islands were granted self-rule. In 1975 the Ellice Islands seceded from the other islands of the British colony & became independent as Tuvalu in 1978. In 1979 the US-Tuvalu friendship treaty was signed which in part granted the US access to military airfields on the islands & the power to veto other nations' use of the islands for military purposes. [BM] {UA}