Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has held discussions with his US counterpart on the proposed treaty with Mauritius on the sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory since the commencement of US strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Secretary of State for Defence speaks regularly with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a wide range of security issues. We welcome US support of the UK proceeding with the proposed treaty with Mauritius, as well as the President's recognition of the strength of the deal.