Maldives President Muizzu Asks UK PM Burnham to Reopen Chagos Islands Sovereignty Talks

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham reopen talks concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. In a letter, Muizzu expressed deep disappointment that the Maldives was not consulted when the UK, under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, agreed to cede sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.

The Maldives government asserts its own claim to the islands, citing historical ties and geographical proximity, as they are located approximately 500km from the Maldives while Mauritius is more than four times that distance away. The Chagos Islands are home to the strategically important UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, which the UK leases to the United States under a 99-year agreement.

A spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office stated that the question of sovereignty is a matter between the UK and Mauritius, and that negotiations were initiated with Mauritius in 2022. Reports indicate that a previous multibillion-dollar agreement to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius was set aside due to a lack of support from US President Donald Trump.