MALE’ — The Maldives has formally informed the United Kingdom that it does not recognise the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, reiterating its own claim over the archipelago and signalling the possibility of international legal action.
In a statement, the President’s Office said the government had conveyed its opposition through two formal written communications sent in November 2024 and January 2026, as well as during a telephone call between President Mohamed Muizzu and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
The government described the proposed agreement between the UK and Mauritius as “deeply concerning,” noting that it had been pursued without due consideration of Maldivian interests.
“Consequently, the Maldives has formally communicated that it does not recognise the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius,” the statement said, citing what it described as longstanding historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the islands.
Sovereignty dispute
The Chagos Islands, officially known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, are currently administered by the United Kingdom. The UK last year agreed in principle to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius, while retaining access to a joint UK–US military base on Diego Garcia under a long-term lease arrangement.
Mauritius has long maintained its claim over the islands and has pursued the matter through international legal forums.
However, the Maldives has now asserted that it holds a prior claim based on geographical proximity and historical links.
“Any transfer of the archipelago must account for Maldivian interests,” President Muizzu said during the call with Lammy, according to the President’s Office.
Legal considerations
The dispute over the Chagos Islands has been shaped by earlier international legal findings.
An advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 2019 concluded that the UK’s separation of the islands from Mauritius in 1965 was unlawful and called for an end to British administration.
This position was subsequently reinforced by a 2023 ruling of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, which endorsed the ICJ’s findings. The United Nations General Assembly also backed Mauritius’ claim in a near-unanimous vote in 2019.
The Maldivian government said it is reviewing these legal developments while maintaining its own position.
“Accordingly, if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it must rightfully be the Maldives,” the statement said.
Possible escalation
The President’s Office said the government is assessing “all lawful means” to protect national interests, including the possibility of making a formal submission to the ICJ.
Officials added that the Maldives remains open to dialogue with the United Kingdom to resolve the issue “in a spirit of mutual respect and historical accuracy.”
The issue remains unresolved, with the proposed UK–Mauritius agreement yet to be finalised in UK law and facing political scrutiny internationally.
Any legal move by the Maldives could further complicate an already contested agreement involving strategic, legal, and geopolitical considerations in the Indian Ocean region. (Source: BBC)
