Diego Garcia and British Indian Ocean Territory

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Thursday 26th February 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

It is very important that we lay out clearly the costings and the value for money points are answered. I am happy that the Government have committed to doing that and will continue to do so.

On the participation of Chagossians, we have discussed this at great length in the past, and for very good reason. We are able to find ways, together with Mauritius, to make sure that Chagossians are properly represented and able to exert influence within the treaty around the trust fund, their ability to resettle in the future, who is entitled to do so and all these issues. It is probably a good idea for us to continue those conversations to make sure that is done as well as it possibly can be.

On the stability of the US position, I take the point. We had secured very clear and firm support for the deal from Secretary Rubio and President Trump. We continue to have close, intense conversations with our dearest allies and partners about the consistency of this decision, in order that we may be able to move forward with this treaty which, as I have said, secures our ability to operate together with the United States from Diego Garcia.

[Lord Bellingham (Con)]

My Lords, on that very point, the Minister said on 12 occasions—and I have a list of them—that the treaty can only go ahead with US support. Well, the US President said last week that this is a “blight on our great ally” and the UK should not give up Diego Garcia. The following day, the President’s senior press officer, Karoline Leavitt, was asked by the BBC whether the President’s statement was now official policy and she said that it certainly was official policy. Can the Minister tell the House what her plan B is?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

Our plan is to proceed as I have said, which is to speak with our friends, allies, partner, close friend in Washington to establish a stable position. As I have said repeatedly—and it is good to know the noble Lord has been listening and counting so assiduously—it is true that this is all about securing the base for the United Kingdom and the United States to operate together.