Maldives president seeks talks with UK PM on Chagos sovereignty

Expressing concerns over the UK's decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, Maldivian president Mohamed Muizzu has written to the British PM, Andrew Burnham, inviting him for official talks and engagement on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.In the letter, Muizzu highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as the Maldives’ longstanding support for major 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 United Kingdom on matters relating to Chagos, while safeguarding the legitimate interests of the Maldivian state and its people," said a statement issued by the president's office.Maldives’ position on Chagos is of interest to India as New Delhi has consistently supported Mauritius’s claim for sovereignty over Chagos, in line with its principled stand on decolonization and support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, as well as its longstanding and close partnership with Mauritius.India has welcomed the agreement between the UK and Mauritius on the return of Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago, including Diego Garcia, saying this significant understanding completed the decolonisation of Mauritius.Muizzu, however, reiterated the importance of meaningful dialogue between the UK and the Maldives on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago. "He further expressed hope that renewed engagement and partnership between the two countries would contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean, particularly at a time of increasing global uncertainty," said the Maldives' statement.According to a Maldivian spokesperson, Muizzu urged Burnham to address what he said was the previous British government’s failure to consult Malé over the proposed transfer, and to engage directly with the Maldives on its "longstanding concerns".The Chagos Islands are in the Indian Ocean approximately 280 nautical miles from Maldives and have been under British control since the early nineteenth century. In 2025, the British government agreed to transfer sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius, while retaining access to the joint UK-US military facility on Diego Garcia through a long-term lease, at an average cost of approximately £101 million per year.The Maldives opposes the proposed transfer of sovereignty to Mauritius and maintains a longstanding claim to the Chagos Archipelago, rooted in "historic ties, shared culture and geographic proximity to the islands".“A renewed partnership between Maldives and United Kingdom can bring stability to the Indian Ocean at a time of global uncertainty,” said Muizzu in his letter.Catch the latest World News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.