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Written question asked by Priti Patel (Conservative) on Wednesday, 25 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 June 2025 (named day). It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Monday, 30 June 2025 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Diego Garcia: Military Bases

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1(b)(viii) of Annex 1 of the UK/Mauritius Agreement concerning the Chagos Archipelago (CS Mauritius No.1/2025), what the notification process will be for informing Mauritius about (a) non-United Kingdom and (b) non-United State of America that have been permitted (i) access, (iI) basing and (iii) overflight access to Diego Garcia; how his Department defines the term upon notification; whether notification should be provided before permitted vessels and aircrafts enter Diego Garcia; what details will be provided through the notification process; who in the Mauritian government will receive the notification; and whether those notifications will be confidential.

Answer

As Annex 1, paragraph 1(b)(viii) of the treaty confirms, the United Kingdom will have unrestricted ability to permit access, basing and overflight for non-United Kingdom and non-United States of America aircraft and vessels. Aircraft accessing Diego Garcia will maintain standard notification practices for flight information regions, which exist in the Indian Ocean flight information zone and other international flight information zones. The United Kingdom will inform Mauritius about non-United Kingdom and non-United States of America aircraft and vessels through normal diplomatic channels. Notifications are confidential and will not include classified information.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
62583
Session
2024-26
Related items
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Mauritius Military bases Diego Garcia USA
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk