Mauritius: Trade Agreements

(asked on 10th March 2025) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the latest draft of the proposed UK-Mauritius Treaty contains provisions for the UK being authorised to exercise the sovereign rights and authorities of Mauritius on Diego Garcia.


Answered by
Stephen Doughty Portrait
Stephen Doughty
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 17th March 2025

We will retain full control over Diego Garcia with robust provisions to keep adversaries out. These include unrestricted access to and use of the base for the UK and US, including control over the electromagnetic spectrum; a buffer zone around Diego Garcia; a comprehensive mechanism to ensure no activity in the other islands threatens base operations; and a ban on the presence of any foreign security forces. The details will be set out when the Treaty is laid before Parliament after signature.

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