Maldives seeks 'meaningful' talks with UK over Chagos Islands sovereignty

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has asked British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham for talks over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, the Maldives' presidential office said Tuesday.

Muizzu stressed the importance of "meaningful dialogue" between the UK and Maldives on the archipelago's sovereignty, while expressing concern over the UK's decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, according to the statement.

In May 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed a deal to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius, ending more than two centuries of British rule, in exchange for allowing the US and UK to continue operating the strategically important Diego Garcia military base for the next 99 years.

The Maldives opposes the UK-Mauritius deal, which has not yet entered into force and is pending domestic ratification.

Muizzu highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as his country's longstanding support for 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," the statement said.

He expressed hope that renewed engagement between the two countries would contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean, "particularly at a time of increasing global uncertainty."

The Chagos Archipelago, a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 islands in the central Indian Ocean, lies about 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Maldives.