Istanbul (ANTARA) - Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has requested\nBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham to engage in discussions regarding\nthe sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, according to the Maldivian\npresidential office on Tuesday (8\/9).<\/p>\n
According to the statement, Muizzu emphasised the importance of\n\u201cmeaningful dialogue\u201d between the United Kingdom and the Maldives\nregarding the sovereignty of the archipelago, while expressing concerns\nover the UK\u2019s decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos\nIslands to Mauritius.<\/p>\n
In May 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement to transfer\nsovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. This\nagreement, which ends over two centuries of British rule, serves as\ncompensation for allowing the US and the UK to continue operating the\nstrategic military base at Diego Garcia for the next 99 years.<\/p>\n
The Maldives opposes the UK-Mauritius agreement, which has not yet\ncome into effect and is still awaiting domestic ratification.<\/p>\n
Muizzu highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the\nMaldives and Chagos, as well as his country\u2019s long-term support for\nmarine conservation and scientific research expeditions in the\nregion.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn this regard, he reaffirmed the Maldives\u2019 commitment to\nmaintaining a reliable and constructive partnership with the UK\nregarding issues concerning Chagos, while continuing to protect the\nlegitimate interests of the Maldivian state and its people,\u201d the\nstatement read.<\/p>\n
He expressed hope that renewed interaction between the two nations\nwould contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean,\n\u201cespecially amidst increasing global uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Chagos Islands, a group of seven atolls consisting of more than\n60 islands in the central Indian Ocean, are located approximately 500\nkilometres south of the Maldives.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maldives-pushes-for-meaningful-talks-regarding-chagos-sovereignty-1789059571", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }