Maldives pushes for meaningful talks regarding Chagos sovereignty

Istanbul (ANTARA) - Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has requested British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to engage in discussions regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, according to the Maldivian presidential office on Tuesday (8/9).

According to the statement, Muizzu emphasised the importance of “meaningful dialogue” between the United Kingdom and the Maldives regarding the sovereignty of the archipelago, while expressing concerns over the UK’s decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

In May 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. This agreement, which ends over two centuries of British rule, serves as compensation for allowing the US and the UK to continue operating the strategic military base at Diego Garcia for the next 99 years.

The Maldives opposes the UK-Mauritius agreement, which has not yet come into effect and is still awaiting domestic ratification.

Muizzu highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as his country’s long-term support for marine conservation and scientific research expeditions in the region.

“In this regard, he reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to maintaining a reliable and constructive partnership with the UK regarding issues concerning Chagos, while continuing to protect the legitimate interests of the Maldivian state and its people,” the statement read.

He expressed hope that renewed interaction between the two nations would contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean, “especially amidst increasing global uncertainty.”

The Chagos Islands, a group of seven atolls consisting of more than 60 islands in the central Indian Ocean, are located approximately 500 kilometres south of the Maldives.