PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(19 June 2025)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to Q11 of the oral evidence given by Professor Philippe Sands to the International Relations and Defence Committee in the House of Lords on 11 June 2025, whether Annex 1, paragraph 2 of the UK-Mauritius Strategic Partnership Framework ensures that notification to Mauritius should be given (a) before or (b) after any armed attack on a third state directly emanating from the base on Diego Garcia; and whether they have undertaken any legal preparation for a potential challenge to this interpretation.

Asked by:
Mr Mark Francois (Conservative)

It is standard practice for basing arrangements to include an agreement to inform a host nation about military action from their territory. As I have explained to the right hon. Gentleman before, Annex 1, paragraph 2 of the Chagos Archipelago treaty, once it has entered into force, will not require prior notification and will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information.

Answered by:
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