Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to his Department's press release entitled UK and Mauritius joint statement, 3 October 2024, published on 3 October 2024, from whom will the United States lease the Diego Garcia military base; and over what period of time will the new lease cover.

With respect to Diego Garcia, there is no lease. US presence and operations in the British Indian Ocean Territory are governed by a series of international agreements, beginning with a 1966 Exchange of Notes between the US and UK, which set out that the whole Territory should be made available for UK and US defence purposes. Under the proposed Treaty between the UK and Mauritius, the UK will exercise all rights and authorities which the UK requires for the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base. The agreement will have a duration of 99 years from entry into force, extendable with the agreement of both parties.