Member

The noble Baroness’s Amendment 49 would require parliamentary approval for any future defence or security use of the Chagos Islands by countries other than the UK or the US. The UK can permit access, basing and overflight to non-UK and non-US forces to Diego Garcia, and may need to act quickly in doing so. I would like to reassure and remind the noble Baroness that the treaty also restricts the presence of non-United Kingdom, non-United States or non-Mauritian security forces in the broader archipelago while granting unrestricted access to states operating with UK or US military forces, save in respect of overflight or undersea access, which requires notification to Mauritius—not permission. The amendment would therefore constrain the UK and the US’s ability to co-operate with our allies and conduct military operations and activities on or from Diego Garcia for the protection of the British people.