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Written question asked by Andrew Rosindell (Conservative) on Tuesday, 6 May 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 May 2025. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 May 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Security: Indian Ocean

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential implications for his policies of (a) piracy, (b) terrorism, (c) proxy activity by state adversaries and (d) other security threats in the Indian Ocean; and what steps he is taking to ensure UK forces on Diego Garcia are prepared to help tackle those threats.

Answer

The UK actively contributes to initiatives that counter security threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This is achieved bilaterally through Maritime Domain Awareness programmes and counter terrorism activities, and multilaterally through organisations such as the Combined Maritime Force, which actively support Maritime Security operations, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism. Although dislocated geographically from the main threat areas, the base on Diego Garcia could be used as a logistics hub or staging area to support such activities.

Under the agreement with Mauritius 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; 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. This will ensure the long term secure and effective operation of the base well into the next century.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
50078
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Armed forces Diego Garcia Security Indian Ocean
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk