President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has confirmed that the Maldives has formally conveyed its concerns to the United Kingdom regarding the future of the Chagos Islands, maintaining that the Maldives holds a stronger historical and legal claim to the territory than Mauritius.
In an interview with the UK-based tabloid Express, President Muizzu said the British Government has been made fully aware of the Maldives’ position through official diplomatic correspondence. He noted that the Chagos Islands are historically known in the Maldives as Foalhavahi.
“Through official exchanges, the British Government is fully aware of both our concerns and our claim,” the President said.
He explained that the Maldives’ claim is grounded in long-standing historical links to the islands, which lie south of Maldivian waters. “These connections are supported by documented evidence, and we believe they give the Maldives a stronger claim than any other country,” he added.
President Muizzu said the Maldives has formally raised both its sovereignty claim and related concerns with the UK, but declined to reveal details of the ongoing discussions.
“We have communicated our position clearly through official channels. While I cannot disclose the content of these exchanges, I can reiterate our confidence that the Maldives has the most credible claim to sovereignty over the Chagos Islands,” he said.
The remarks come amid growing debate over the British Government’s decision, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a move framed in the UK as part of a decolonisation process.
Central to the issue is Diego Garcia, home to a strategically important UK–US military base. Under the proposed arrangement, sovereignty would be transferred to Mauritius, while the United Kingdom and the United States would continue operating the base under a long-term lease.
President Muizzu stressed that the Maldives’ position is based on historical evidence rather than geopolitical considerations. He cited archaeological and documentary records, including gravestones bearing Dhivehi inscriptions, carbon-dated artefacts, centuries-old Maldivian oral histories, and a 16th-century royal decree asserting Maldivian sovereignty over the islands.
Despite the disagreement, the President underlined that relations between the Maldives and the United Kingdom remain positive, pointing to strong people-to-people ties and the UK’s early role in the development of Maldivian tourism.
“The Maldives has been a dream destination for British travellers from the very beginning,” he said, crediting British tourists, engineers and hospitality standards with shaping the country’s tourism industry.
The Maldivian Government has reiterated its belief that its claim to the Chagos Islands is firmly supported by historical, cultural and legal evidence.
Meanwhile, the UK Government has defended its agreement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while leasing back the military base, despite criticism from US President Donald Trump. In a social media post, Trump described the move as an “act of great stupidity,” later confirming his opposition to the deal. The UK has responded by stating it would not compromise national security, with the Prime Minister’s spokesperson insisting that US support for the agreement remains in place.
