Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on diplomatic relations with the US.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The military base on Diego Garcia is an important national asset that we use with the Americans. The UK's priority is the security, safety and usability of the base. We are working in lockstep with the US on all elements of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on the US contribution to the military balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK's priority is the long term continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia and Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. We continue to work in lockstep with the US to this end and have their full support. The Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary Austin discussed the British Indian Ocean Territory in Washington DC on 1 December 2023.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks to national security of the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by James Heappey
The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.
The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reassurances his Department has received from the government of Mauritius on the future of the military base in Diego Garcia.
Answered by James Heappey
The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.
The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by James Heappey
We are in regular contact with the US administration on matters related to the British Indian Ocean Territory at both Ministerial and official levels.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory in the last three months.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of the joint UK-US military facility on Diego Garcia. The UK Government is in regular contact with the US on a range of topics related to the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago, including the sovereignty negotiations. The US fully supports the process of bilateral negotiations.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what discussions he has had with his Mauritian counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory in the last month.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign Secretary has not yet had discussions with his Mauritian counterpart on the British Indian Ocean Territory. However, the Prime Minister met Mauritian Prime Minister Jugnauth in the margins of the G20 Summit in Delhi on 9 September, and the former Foreign Secretary met his Mauritian counterpart in the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting on 1 March. The British Indian Ocean Territory was discussed at both meetings. Additionally, since November 2022, senior UK officials have held eight rounds of negotiations with their Mauritian counterparts on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Chagossians (a) in the UK and (b) on the islands have been given a role in negotiations with Mauritius over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Negotiations over the British Indian Ocean Territory/ Chagos Archipelago are between the UK and Mauritius. We recognise the future of the islands is an important issue for many Chagossians. UK Government ministers and officials met Chagossian groups representing communities in the UK, Mauritius and the Seychelles in February, May and October to update on the progress of negotiations, and hear their views.
Asked by: Robert Buckland (Conservative - South Swindon)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the proposed cession of the Chagos Islands on (a) British regional interests and (b) wider regional security.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK and Mauritius are in ongoing negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)/Chagos Archipelago. Maintaining the full and effective operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and global security, is essential. The UK and Mauritius have publicly committed to ensuring that any agreement reached between our two countries will do this.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with non-governmental organisations on the British Indian Ocean Territory Marine Protected Area; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) Administration is responsible for the management of the Marine Protected Area.
Officials have had discussions with several non-governmental organisations, including the Zoological Society of London, on the protection and conservation of the unique marine environment in Chagos Archipelago.