Senator John Kennedy, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, introduced the Diego Garcia Treaty Oversight Act on Mar. 13. The bill would require the U.S. Senate’s advice and consent before any changes are made to the 1966 treaty between the United States and United Kingdom regarding the British Indian Ocean Territory.
The proposed legislation aims to ensure that any transfer of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia—which hosts a joint U.S.-U.K. military base—cannot occur without Senate approval. The bill also seeks to block federal funding for any modifications to the treaty unless such approval is granted.
“When two countries shake hands on a treaty, one of them can’t start changing the terms without the other country agreeing to it. That’s just common sense. That’s why I take issue with the United Kingdom trying to give our joint military base on Diego Garcia to a pal of Xi Jinping’s—all without getting the U.S. Senate’s consent. My bill would make sure that our friends in the U.K. don’t modify our treaty and hand this gift to China without giving the Senate a say,” said Kennedy.
The legislation would also mandate a report to Congress detailing national security reasons for any proposed change, potential effects on U.S. operational control of Diego Garcia, and risks associated with third-party sovereignty or military presence.
Diego Garcia is notable as one of only a few locations worldwide where U.S. submarines can be reloaded, according to information provided by Kennedy’s office. The United Kingdom has recently moved toward ceding control of these islands to Mauritius, whose government has increased diplomatic ties with China.
Kennedy has been an outspoken critic of this potential transfer since its announcement in October 2024, having released statements, authored opinion pieces in national publications, written letters seeking clarification from administration officials, and hosted British critics at his office.
According to the official website, Kennedy represents all of Louisiana and operates district offices across several cities including Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport (official website). He has engaged constituents through newsletters and public events (official website), advanced policies supporting veterans and national security (official website), chaired key committees such as Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs (official website), and influenced policy through work on Appropriations and Energy committees (official website).
Observers will watch closely as Kennedy’s bill moves forward in Congress amid ongoing debate about strategic interests in Diego Garcia.
