The Maldives has formally declared its opposition to the United Kingdom’s agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, escalating a complex territorial dispute in the Indian Ocean. President Mohamed Muizzu’s administration has submitted two written objections to the British government and raised concerns directly with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy during a December phone call, characterizing the bilateral arrangement as “deeply concerning” and insufficiently attentive to Maldivian interests.
This diplomatic confrontation stems from the Maldives’ assertion of historical sovereignty over the strategically significant archipelago, which the UK has administered as the British Indian Ocean Territory since the 19th century. The Muizzu government maintains that geographical proximity and centuries-old administrative ties grant the Maldives superior territorial claims over both Mauritius and the United Kingdom.
The controversy emerges against the backdrop of international legal developments. Both the International Court of Justice (2019) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (2023) have issued rulings supporting Mauritius’ claims, determining that Britain’s 1965 separation of the islands from Mauritian territory violated international law. While these opinions are non-binding, they carried significant diplomatic weight, leading to a near-unanimous UN General Assembly resolution demanding the islands’ return to Mauritian control.
Complicating matters further, the UK-Mauritius agreement—which includes provisions for continued operation of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia—now faces multiple challenges. Former US President Donald Trump has publicly urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abandon the transfer, creating unexpected political pressure despite official State Department support for the arrangement. Additionally, the deal has drawn criticism from Chagossian diaspora communities seeking right of return and faces opposition from British political parties including the Conservatives and Reform UK.
The Maldives has indicated it will pursue “all available avenues” for formal submission to international judicial bodies, potentially including a case before the ICJ. Such legal action would further complicate the already delayed implementation of the UK-Mauritius agreement, which remains in legislative limbo without confirmation in British law.
President Muizzu’s administration expresses hope for “meaningful dialogue” with the UK based on “mutual respect and historical accuracy,” but simultaneously prepares for legal confrontation to protect what it considers vital national interests in the strategically crucial waters of the Indian Ocean.