The long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia.
- Long-term agreement secures future of joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia
- Vital capabilities protected to counter growing global threats, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad
- Deal is backed by strong support from the US and key international allies
The UK has today (22 May) signed a landmark agreement with Mauritius to secure the future of the strategically critical UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, one of our most significant contributions to the transatlantic defence and security partnership.
The base has played a vital role in defending the UK and its allies for over 50 years. This new deal ensures its continued operation for at least the next century, protecting capabilities essential to UK intelligence and counter-terrorism.
The base plays a key role in operations that support UK forces and our allies across the Middle East, East Africa and South Asia.
Its deep-water port, airfield, and advanced communications and surveillance capabilities give the UK and its allies crucial strategic capabilities, which have played a key role in missions to disrupt high-value terrorists, including Islamic State threats to the UK.
The legal necessity of this deal has been recognised by successive governments. The previous government started these negotiations over two years ago, and they held 11 out of the 13 rounds of talks that underpin the deal, that this government has concluded.
Crucially, all Five Eyes partners - the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand - back the agreement, along with India, recognising the critical role Diego Garcia plays in upholding global stability and deterring adversaries.
The base is a cornerstone of the Government's Plan for Change, with operations there deterring threats to our nation and protecting our economic security.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:
As the world becomes more dangerous, our military base on Diego Garcia becomes more important. Today's Treaty secures full operational control, strengthens our UK-US defence partnership and keeps British people safe at home for the next 99 years and beyond.
Without this base, our ability to deter terrorists, defend our interests and protect our troops around the world would be at risk. This agreement will safeguard our national and economic security for generations to come.
Critically, the deal ensures the UK retains full operational control of Diego Garcia, including management of the electromagnetic spectrum satellite used for communications - vital for countering hostile interference.
There will also be robust provisions to keep adversaries out, including:
A 24 nautical mile buffer zone where nothing can be built or placed without UK consent - meaning we can protect UK interests.
A rigorous process, including joint decision-making, to prevent any activities on the wider islands - some over 100 nautical miles away - from disrupting base operations. Joint decision-making means there can be no development unless we agree.
A strict ban on foreign security forces on the outer islands, whether civilian or military.
A binding obligation to ensure the base is never undermined.
Both countries have also agreed to a ban on the presence of foreign forces across the wider territory and a binding guarantee that base operations cannot be undermined.
Without this deal, international legal proceedings could have rendered the base inoperable, affecting UK national security in the process with our adversaries being allowed to capitalise on this - building outposts near the base.
Within a matter of weeks, with no deal, the UK could face legally-binding provisional measures through an Arbitral Tribunal under the Law of the Sea Convention - affecting the ability of the Armed Forces to patrol the waters around the base.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP said:
This treaty secures the Diego Garcia military base for generations to come, protecting national and global security.
Without this deal, the land, sea and air operations of the base would become inoperable - doing nothing was not an option.
The US, Australia, Canada and India all back this deal because they understand its importance for global security. This government has always been clear that we will act in the national interest, not gamble with our national security like those who oppose this deal.
It was clear that this agreement was the only route to securing the future of the base and preventing the UK's adversaries from establishing a presence in the region.
It is a clear demonstration of the UK's commitment to act decisively in defence of its interests and ensure that the base continues to support operations that keep British citizens safe, now and in the decades to come.
Notes:
- The cost per year is £101 million and the net present value of payments under the treaty is £3.4 billion. All costs have been verified by the Government Actuary's Department.
