Chagos Islands: Sovereignty
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Oral Statement of 7 October 2024 on British Indian Ocean Territory: Negotiations, Official Report, column 46, and Article 2(1) of the of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), published on 22 May 2025, for what reason the Agreement only authorises the UK to exercise the rights and authorities of Mauritius with respect to Diego Garcia in accordance with the terms of the Agreement rather than in full; what the impact of this change is on (a) UK security and defence interests, (b) the marine environment and (c) control over Diego Garcia as defined in Article 19 of the Agreement; and on what date was the change to the position outlined by him to the House on 7 October 2024 was agreed.
Answered by Stephen Doughty
The Treaty explicitly grants all rights and authorities that the United Kingdom requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base. The rights referred to in the Foreign Secretary's statement of 7 October 2024 are the same rights that are detailed in the treaty. Indeed, compared to the treaty negotiated by the last government, we have strengthened provisions which secure the base and that will stop hostile actors or competitor states from establishing outposts in neighbouring islands.
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