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Chagos Islands: Sovereignty

Question for Ministry of Defence

UIN 64020, tabled on 1 July 2025

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether operations conducted by special forces will be subject to the notifications requirements of paragraph 2 of Annex 1 of the UK-Mauritius Treaty.

Answered on

4 July 2025

As per longstanding Government policy, I can neither confirm nor deny information relating to UK Special Forces.

Annex 1, paragraph 2 of the Chagos Archipelago Treaty, once it has entered into force, will not require the UK to divulge sensitive information and will not require prior notification of any military operation.

Moreover, Article 3(2) of the treaty states that Mauritius cannot undermine, prejudice or otherwise interfere with the long-term, secure and effective operation of the military base on Diego Garcia, and that Mauritius shall cooperate to that end.

Named day
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