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British Overseas Territories: UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 12 February 2026UIN 109960

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what guidance her Department provides on the potential impact of Article 298 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on British maritime logistics taking place in (a) the Falkland Islands, (b) Gibraltar and (c) other British Overseas Territories.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The United Kingdom is a Party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), having ratified it in 1997. The United Kingdom's position regarding Article 298 of UNCLOS is set out in the UK's formal declarations dated 7 April 2003 and 31 December 2020.

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