Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally asked UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to reopen talks on Chagos sovereignty, arguing the Maldives should have been consulted before any transfer to Mauritius. The Maldives cites historical ties and closer geographic proximity—about 500 km—as the basis for its claim. The islands include Diego Garcia, home to a key UK-US military base; the UK says sovereignty talks have been with Mauritius since 2022.
Maldives Asks UK To Reopen Chagos Sovereignty Talks, Citing Proximity And Historic Ties
This image released by the US Navy shows an aerial view of Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago and home to a military base that the UK leases to the US in a 99-year deal. [File: US Navy via AP]
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has written to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to reopen talks over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, urging that the archipelago not be transferred to Mauritius without broader regional consultation.
In a statement released by the Maldives presidential office, Muizzu stressed "the importance of meaningful dialogue between the UK and the Maldives on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago" and expressed concern about the UK's decision to proceed with handing sovereignty to Mauritius.
The Maldives argues its claim is supported by historical ties and geographic proximity: the Chagos Islands lie about 500 km (310 miles) from the Maldives, while Mauritius is more than four times that distance, the government says.
Diego Garcia And Strategic Importance
The Chagos archipelago includes Diego Garcia, the largest island, which hosts a significant UK-US military facility. The base is strategically located in the central Indian Ocean between Asia and Africa and operates under a long-term arrangement that the UK has maintained with the United States.
Muizzu said he was "deeply disappointed" that the Maldives had not been consulted when former Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalised a May 2025 deal to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius. That agreement was structured to allow the UK to preserve control over the Diego Garcia facility while transferring sovereignty to Mauritius.
According to reporting, the UK set aside Starmer's bill last April to return the islands to Mauritius, citing a lack of international support; Mauritius said it would "spare no effort" to reclaim the archipelago.
"The Maldives calls on the UK to rectify this oversight by your predecessor and to engage in meaningful negotiations with the Maldives on Chagos sovereignty," Muizzu wrote.
The UK Foreign Office responded that sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius and noted that formal negotiations with Mauritius began in 2022 rather than with the Maldives.
What Comes Next
The Maldives' request increases diplomatic pressure on the UK to clarify its negotiating partners and consider wider regional perspectives. Any change in course would involve complex legal, security and diplomatic considerations, particularly given the military role of Diego Garcia.
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