The Maldives has officially informed the United Kingdom that it does not recognise the proposed transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The Maldivian government has described the deal as “deeply concerning” and indicated it may pursue international legal action.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Maldives conveyed its objections through written communications and a phone call with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. This stance underscores the ongoing territorial dispute over the strategically important archipelago.
The Chagos Islands, officially designated as the British Indian Ocean Territory, are at the centre of a long-standing disagreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Britain had agreed in principle to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius, a move that would see the islands returned to Mauritian control. However, the transfer has been complicated by the UK’s retention of a leased military base, a US facility on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the chain.
UK minister Stephen Doughty has stated that sovereignty over the islands remains a matter between Britain and Mauritius. International rulings have, in the past, favoured Mauritius’s claim to the territory. The dispute intensified following a 2019 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice that found the detachment of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 was unlawful. The UK has rejected this opinion.
President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration in the Maldives has consistently advocated for the rights of states in territorial disputes and has voiced strong opposition to any actions that could be perceived as undermining international law or the sovereignty of nations. The Maldives’ claim to the territory stems from historical ties and geographical proximity, though it is not a direct party to the primary dispute between the UK and Mauritius.
The British government’s agreement to return the islands to Mauritius was seen by some as a step towards resolving a colonial-era grievance. However, the condition of retaining the military base has remained a point of contention, particularly for the inhabitants of the Chagos Islands, the Chagossians, who were forcibly evicted in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for the US base.
The Maldives’ formal rejection now adds another layer of complexity to the situation. The government has indicated its willingness to explore all available international legal avenues to challenge the proposed transfer. The precise nature of the Maldivian legal strategy and its potential impact on the ongoing negotiations between the UK and Mauritius remain to be seen.
The Chenab Times News Desk