Maldives reiterates sovereignty over Chagos islands, rejects UK transfer to Mauritius

Maldives has once again opposed the United Kingdom's agreement to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, asserting its own historical sovereignty over the archipelago. President Mohamed Muizzu's office communicated to the UK that the Maldives does not recognise the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The opposition to the deal was earlier conveyed through two written objections, which were submitted in November 2024 and January 2026. Muizzu had also communicated the same to UK through a phone call with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in December last year.

In the call, Muizzu warned that 'any transfer of the archipelago must account for Maldivian interests,' signalling that the island nation was prepared to take the matter further.

Claim rooted in history

According to a report in BBC, in the recent communication, Maldives has argued that its claim to the Chagos Islands is rooted in historical and geographical ties that predate any modern legal arrangements. In a detailed statement, Muizzu's office said that the decision by the British government to proceed "in sole consultation with Mauritius, without due consideration of Maldivian interests, is deeply concerning."

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The statement further said that "if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it must rightfully be the Maldives," citing centuries-old administrative and cultural connections to the archipelago.

UK-Mauritius deal under scrutiny

The Chagos Islands were under UK control since the early 19th century. However, the dispute arose once the Mauritius got independence from the erstwhile coloniser. Last year, the UK government agreed to transfer the territory to Mauritius in exchange for leasing the strategic joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia at an average cost of £101 million annually.

UK Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty firmly stated that sovereignty over the islands is a matter solely between Britain and Mauritius and not the Maldives.

Legal battles on horizon

Despite UK giving Chagos to Mauritius, the deal faces mounting legal complications. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2019 that Britain's 1965 separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius was unlawful, and the UN General Assembly subsequently demanded the territory's return to Mauritius.

Now, the Maldives is reviewing these legal judgements and considering filing its own case before the ICJ, which would add another layer of complexity to an already fraught dispute.

Adding to the uncertainty, US President Donald Trump has publicly urged UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to relinquish the territory, while declaring that "this land should not be taken away from the UK."

Looking at these event, it appears that the Chagos dispute is still far from over.