Diego Garcia and British Indian Ocean Territory

Baroness Goldie Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

We do need to make up our own minds and we have done so, but I do not think it is realistic to proceed in a way that does not involve the support of our allies in the United States who pay for the base and its operation, and with whom we work so closely. The noble Lord is right about noises off, and sometimes you do have to wonder about the motivation of some of those conducting themselves in that way.

[Baroness Goldie (Con)]

My Lords, given what the Minister has just said about “our dearest friends and allies”, would the single most sensible gesture to our dearest friends and ally not now be to put this pause on to permanent hold?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

The noble Baroness will forgive me for not wanting to disclose in this forum the very detailed nature of the conversations we are having with the United States, but it is not for any of us here to tell each other what the best thing to do for the United States would be; it is up to them to talk to us privately at this stage about how we should be proceeding to secure the base.