Written Evidence Feb. 28 2024
Inquiry: The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean TerritoryFound: CHA0012 - The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory CNA Corporation
Jan. 24 2024
Source Page: 45th Universal Periodic Review of human rights: UK statement on MauritiusFound: Regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago, and noting our previous exchanges on
Mentions:
1: Barry Gardiner (Lab - Brent North) lobbying for the UK to create what was then the largest marine-protected area on the planet, in the Indian - Speech Link
2: Jeremy Corbyn (Ind - Islington North) protection zone around the Falkland Islands and south from there, but also around Diego Garcia and the Chagos - Speech Link
3: Patrick Grady (SNP - Glasgow North) international waters are described as some sort of frontier, which evokes dated imagery of unexplored territory - Speech Link
4: Emma Hardy (Lab - Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) Our global British family in the UK overseas territories contains 94% of all the unique species that - Speech Link
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on diplomatic relations with the US.
Answered by David Rutley
The military base on Diego Garcia is an important national asset that we use with the Americans. The UK's priority is the security, safety and usability of the base. We are working in lockstep with the US on all elements of British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and will continue to do so.
Written Evidence Feb. 28 2024
Inquiry: The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean TerritoryFound: CHA0017 - The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory Written Evidence
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the potential risks to national security of the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Answered by James Heappey
The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.
The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of transferring sovereignty over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on the US contribution to the military balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by James Heappey
The UK's priority is the long term continued effective operation of the joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia and Mauritius has made clear publicly that it supports this goal. We continue to work in lockstep with the US to this end and have their full support. The Secretary of State for Defence and Secretary Austin discussed the British Indian Ocean Territory in Washington DC on 1 December 2023.
Written Evidence Feb. 28 2024
Inquiry: The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean TerritoryFound: CHA0005 - The UK Government’s engagement regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory Clifford Chance
Mentions:
1: Daniel Kawczynski (Con - Shrewsbury and Atcham) Between 700,000 and 1 million British tourists visit Morocco every year. - Speech Link
2: Patrick Grady (SNP - Glasgow North) Shrewsbury and Atcham (Daniel Kawczynski) secured a debate in Westminster Hall in which he called for the Chagos - Speech Link
3: Jeremy Corbyn (Ind - Islington North) Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham speak on many occasions in the Chagos islands (British Indian Ocean - Speech Link
4: Patrick Grady (SNP - Glasgow North) opportunity in Westminster Hall to argue for the right of self-determination for the people of the Chagos - Speech Link
Asked by: Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative - Shrewsbury and Atcham)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reassurances his Department has received from the government of Mauritius on the future of the military base in Diego Garcia.
Answered by James Heappey
The joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia plays a crucial role in combating some of the most challenging threats to regional and international security.
The UK and Mauritius have conducted several rounds of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory/Chagos Archipelago. The UK and Mauritius have reiterated that any agreement between our two countries will ensure the continued effective operation of joint UK/US military base on Diego Garcia.