Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested that the United Kingdom reopen negotiations regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, advocating for direct dialogue with Malé rather than proceeding with a handover to Mauritius.
In a letter addressed to UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Muizzu stressed the necessity of “meaningful dialogue” between the two nations concerning the archipelago. The request was made public on Tuesday through an official statement from the Maldivian presidential office.
The Maldives government contends that its historical and geographical claims to the islands are stronger than those of Mauritius. According to Malé, the Chagos archipelago is located approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the Maldives, whereas Mauritius lies more than four times that distance away.
The islands are of significant strategic importance due to Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain, which hosts a major joint UK-US military base. The United States operates the facility under a 99-year lease agreement, positioning it as a critical asset in the Indian Ocean between Asia and Africa.
Muizzu expressed “deep disappointment” that the UK did not consult the Maldives during the negotiations conducted by his predecessor, Keir Starmer. In May 2025, Starmer finalized a multibillion-dollar agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while ensuring the UK retains control of the airbase on Diego Garcia.
Urging Burnham to “rectify this oversight,” Muizzu highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as Malé’s long-standing support for marine conservation and scientific research in the region.
The diplomatic situation became complicated last April when the UK suspended Starmer’s legislation to return the islands to Mauritius. The delay was attributed to opposition from US President Donald Trump, despite Mauritius’s commitment to reclaiming the archipelago.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office responded to the latest developments by telling the Press Association that sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter solely for the UK and Mauritius. The spokesperson noted that the previous government initiated negotiations with Mauritius in 2022, rather than engaging the Maldives.
Maldives has a point geographically, but sovereignty disputes are messy. I hope dialogue resolves this peacefully.
Does anyone actually care about the displaced Chagossians here? The big powers seem to forget them completely.
It is surprising that the US blocked the previous deal. Trump really keeps getting involved in Indian Ocean geopolitics.
Why is the UK always so dismissive? Diego Garcia is tiny, but strategically vital. Both countries need to compromise.
I never realized the Maldives had such a strong historical claim. This complicates things for Mauritius significantly.