Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, when he shared with the US Administration a copy of the proposed Treaty with Mauritius over the future sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

We shared the proposed treaty with the new US Administration upon their taking office. Our primary goal throughout negotiations is to protect the joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia, which plays a crucial role in regional and international security. The UK has been working in lockstep with the US since the start of negotiations in 2022, including under the previous Conservative government. Given Diego Garcia's status as a key strategic asset, it is right that the new US Administration has the chance to consider the agreement.