Speech

PM's remarks at press conference on Diego Garcia: 22 May 2025

PM바카라 사이트™s remarks at his press conference on Diego Garcia.

• From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
• Published: 22 May 2025

• Location: Permanent Joint Headquarters in Northwood
• Delivered on: 22 May 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

A few moments ago바카라 사이트¦

I signed a deal바카라 사이트¦

To secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia.

This is absolutely vital바카라 사이트¦

For our defence and intelligence바카라 사이트¦

And therefore 바카라 사이트“

For the safety and security of the British people.

The full assessment of why this is so important is highly classified.

But I want to speak as frankly as I can. 

The strategic location of this base is of the utmost significance to Britain.

From deploying aircraft to defeat terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan바카라 사이트¦

To anticipating threats in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific바카라 사이트¦

The base is right at the foundation of our security and safety at home.

It has helped us to바카라 사이트¦

Disrupt threats to the UK바카라 사이트¦

Support counter terror operations against Islamic State바카라 사이트¦

And to reduce the risk to brave British and American servicemen and servicewomen. 

The base will help protect the safe passage of our Carrier Strike Group as it goes through the Middle East.

It enables rapid deployment across the Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia바카라 사이트¦

It helps combat some of the most challenging threats we face,

Including from terrorism and hostile states바카라 사이트¦

And its location creates real military advantage across the Indo-Pacific.

The base gives the UK and the US access to unique and vital capabilities 바카라 사이트“ which benefit us directly.

Many of these capabilities are secret, but they include바카라 사이트¦

Airfield and deep-water port facilities바카라 사이트¦

Facilities that support the worldwide operation of GPS바카라 사이트¦

And the monitoring of objects in the earth바카라 사이트™s orbit바카라 사이트¦

And equipment to monitor the nuclear test ban treaty.

The base is one of the most significant contributions we make to our security relationship with the United States 바카라 사이트“

Which is critical for keeping Britain safe.

Almost everything we do from the base is in partnership with the US.

President Trump has welcomed the deal 바카라 사이트“

Along with other allies.

Because they see the strategic importance of this base 바카라 사이트“

And that we cannot cede this ground to others who would seek to do us harm.

And let me be clear 바카라 사이트“ 

We had to act now바카라 사이트¦

Because the base was under threat.

The courts have already made decisions which undermine our position.

And if Mauritius takes us to court again바카라 사이트¦

The UK바카라 사이트™s longstanding legal view바카라 사이트¦

Is that we would not have a realistic prospect of success바카라 사이트¦

And would likely face a Provisional Measures Order within a matter of weeks.

But this is not just about international law.

This is about the operation of the base.

Even if we chose to ignore judgments made against us바카라 사이트¦

International organisations and other countries would act on them.

And that would undermine the operation of the base 바카라 사이트“

Causing us to lose this unique capability.

One example of this is the electromagnetic spectrum.

Countries have the right to manage this spectrum as they wish within their borders바카라 사이트¦

A right that바카라 사이트™s recognised in regulations바카라 사이트¦

And overseen in the International Telecommunication Union.

The use of spectrum is key to understand and anticipate those who seek to do us harm.

If our right to control it is put into doubt바카라 사이트¦

We would lose the first line of defence against other countries who wish to interfere and disrupt this capability바카라 사이트¦

Rendering it practically useless.

In addition 바카라 사이트“ if we do not agree this deal바카라 사이트¦

The legal situation would mean that바카라 사이트¦

We would not be able to prevent China바카라 사이트¦

Or any other nation바카라 사이트¦

Setting up their own bases on the outer islands,

Or carrying out joint exercises near our base.

We would have to explain to you 바카라 사이트“ the British people 바카라 사이트“

And to our allies바카라 사이트¦

That we had lost control of this vital asset.

No responsible government could let that happen.

So there is no alternative 바카라 사이트“

But to act 바카라 사이트“

In Britain바카라 사이트™s national interest.

By agreeing to this deal now 바카라 사이트“ on our terms 바카라 사이트“

We are securing strong protections, including from malign influence바카라 사이트¦

That will allow the base to operate well into the next century바카라 사이트¦

Helping to keep us safe for generations to come.

Other approaches to secure the base have been tried over the years 바카라 사이트“

And they have failed.

[political content redacted]

Now there is obviously a cost to maintaining such a valuable asset.

We pay for our other military bases.

Allies like the US and France do the same.

This cost is part and parcel of using Britain바카라 사이트™s global reach to keep us safe at home바카라 사이트¦Â 

And it will be less than cost of running one aircraft carrier for a year.

*

Today바카라 사이트™s agreement is the only way to maintain the base in the long term.

There is no alternative.

We will never gamble with national security.

So we have acted 바카라 사이트“

To secure our national interest바카라 사이트¦

To strengthen our national security 바카라 사이트“

And to protect the British people for many years to come.

Thank you.

Published 22 May 2025