The United Kingdom has responded to the Maldives' objection after the UK handed over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The UK's Foreign Office stated on Friday that various courts, rulings, and institutions have made it clear that the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is between the UK and Mauritius.
It stated that the Diego Garcia treaty has robust security provisions that categorically prevent compromises to the Diego Garcia military base.
The response from the UK came after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu defiantly claimed at Parliament on Thursday that not a single grain of sand from Maldivian soil, nor the smallest atom of its territory, shall be surrendered.
During his annual address to the Parliament, the President stated that the Government formally submitted written objections to the UK on 8 November 2024 and 18 January 2026, expressing the rejection of this decision.
The President noted that during a telephone call on 15 December 2025 with the Rt Hon David Lammy, the British Deputy Prime Minister, he conveyed the Maldives' desire for further consultations on the matter.
The President also confirmed that the Government has informed both the government of Mauritius and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) of its strong opposition to any Mauritian economic policies in the Chagos region that could negatively impact the Maldivian economy, specifically the fisheries and tourism sectors.
