Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 3(d) of Annex 1 of the document entitled UK/Mauritius: Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what criteria will be used to determine authorisations permitting the presence of non-United Kingdom, non-United States or non-Mauritian security forces, either civilian or military in the Chagos Archipelago beyond Diego Garcia as defined in paragraph 11 of Annex 1.

The authorisation of any non-UK, non-US or non-Mauritian security forces will be agreed jointly between the UK and Mauritius. This means that it can only happen if the UK agrees. Our approach on that will be determined by an analysis of whether the presence would risk undermining, prejudicing or otherwise interfering with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the Base.