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Select committee: International Agreements Committee

Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago

Closed Opened 9 Jun 2025 Closed 3 Jul 2025 6 conclusions

International Agreements Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 9 June 2025.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia on 25 June 2025.

The government's response

Published 25 September 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Government welcomes the Committee's report and its conclusion that ratification would reduce the risk facing the Diego Garcia base, and sets out its response on defence, environment, resettlement, finance, duration, dispute settlement and amendment.

  • On defence, the Government welcomes the Committee's clarity on "expeditiously" informing Mauritius of any armed attack, and agrees that the Agreement does not require notification in advance, so "no sensitive details of military activities would ever be passed on".
  • On the Marine Protected Area, the UK "will support" Mauritius' ambitions, with the terms of support to be "agreed in a separate process which is already underway". It is for Mauritius to decide how the £45 million annual development funds are used.
  • On resettlement, the Government is discussing modalities with Mauritius. Ahead of ratification it has "committed to providing a factual Statement to both Houses" covering eligibility criteria and the modalities of the trust fund.
  • On amendment, the Government notes the Minister has stated, and written to confirm, that the Article 16.2 exception "will only be used in very exceptional circumstances".

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Recommendations and conclusions

All 6 recommendations and conclusions

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 1 oral evidence sessionLatest 17 June 2025
  • 3 witnesses
All evidence

Recent activity

Recommendations and conclusions 6 shown

Conclusion 59

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
Our report draws some specific conclusions about the Agreement and makes a number of recommendations. These conclusions and recommendations are set out in paragraphs 33, 39, 46, 49, 51, 55, and 57 above.

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Conclusion 60

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
In summary, our view of the Agreement is the following.

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Conclusion 61

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
The Base on Diego Garcia is a vital UK national asset and we agree with the Government that securing its long-term effective operation is critical. The Government is confident that the Defence and Security rights conferred by the Agreement with Mauritius achieve that objective and we have not heard any substantial disagreement with that proposition - at least for so long as the Agreement remains in force. The fact that the US Government supports the Agreement is significant.

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Conclusion 62

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
Like all treaties, the Agreement reflects a compromise between the views of the two Parties. It is not perfect. The cost to the UK taxpayer is high. The Agreement does not guarantee that Chagossians can return to the islands. There are some uncertainties around the future of the marine protected area. There is no guarantee of an extension to the Agreement after the initial 99-year period and questions have been raised about the enforceability of the right of first refusal.

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Conclusion 63

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
Nevertheless, it is clear that if the Agreement is not ratified, and if a future Government attempted to go on resisting international pressure to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, Mauritius is likely to resume its campaign through international courts with a view to obtaining a legally binding judgment on sovereignty against the UK. We heard that there are ways in which Mauritius could bring that issue before an international court. We also heard that any international court looking at this issue would be unlikely to find in favour of the UK. In that circumstance, the future of the Base on Diego Garcia would be at greater risk.

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Conclusion 64

Conclusion · 9th Report - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia

Concluded (the committee's words)
We report the Agreement to the House for special attention and debate. < Back Next > © Parliamentary copyright 2025 A-Z index Glossary Contact us Freedom of Information Jobs Using this website Copyright Privacy notice Cookie policy Cookie Manager House of Lords - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia - International Agreements Committee Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia Contents < Back Next > © Parliamentary copyright 2024 A-Z index Glossary Contact us Freedom of Information Jobs Using this website Copyright Privacy notice Cookie policy Cookie Manager House of Lords - UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia - International Agreements Committee Accessibility Email alerts RSS feeds Contact us Home Parliamentary business MPs, Lords & offices About Parliament Get involved Visiting Education House of Commons House of Lords What's on Bills & legislation Committees Publications & records Parliament TV News Topics UK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia Contents

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Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

1 session

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Date Session and witnesses Source
17 Jun 2025
Oral evidence session
Paul Mckell · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Sir Christopher Greenwood GBE, CMG, KC · International Court of Justice, Stephen Doughty MP · Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office 		View ↗

Who gave evidence

3 witnesses

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WitnessOrganisationSessions
Paul Mckell · Legal Director and Director Ocean Policy Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Sir Christopher Greenwood GBE, CMG, KC · Judge of the Iran/US Claims Tribunal, former judge International Court of Justice 1
Stephen Doughty MP · Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office 1