- The UK insists Chagos sovereignty is a bilateral matter between Britain and Mauritius, excluding the Maldives.
- President Muizzu wrote to the UK seeking renewed talks, disappointed the Maldives was not consulted before the transfer.
- The Maldives claims historical, cultural, economic and environmental interests justify a role in Chagos decisions.
The United Kingdom has maintained that sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter between Britain and Mauritius, as President Dr Mohamed Muizzu seeks talks on the Maldives’ concerns regarding the islands.
President Muizzu wrote to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking him to reopen discussions over Chagos sovereignty. A Maldivian government spokesperson said the President was deeply disappointed that the Maldives had not been consulted before former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said in a statement:
“We continue to speak to our counterparts in the Maldives on a regular basis about a range of issues.
“However, the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius, which is why the previous government launched negotiations with Mauritius on the issue in 2022, rather than with the Maldives.”
The statement indicates that Britain continues to view the formal sovereignty process as a bilateral issue, despite the Muizzu administration’s efforts to establish a role for the Maldives in discussions concerning the archipelago.
The United Kingdom and Mauritius signed a treaty in May 2025 recognising Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago. Under the agreement, Britain would retain control of Diego Garcia for an initial 99 years, allowing the joint UK-US military facility on the island to continue operating.
The Maldives changed its official position on the dispute earlier this year when President Muizzu withdrew a 2022 letter issued by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih supporting Mauritius’ sovereignty claim.
The current administration maintains that historical and cultural links between the Maldives and Chagos give the country a legitimate interest in decisions concerning the archipelago. It has also raised concerns about the potential effects of future economic, environmental and maritime policies around Chagos on the Maldives.
