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Maldives requests UK to reopen Chagos Islands sovereignty talks
Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally requested UK Prime Minister Andrew Burnham to reopen sovereignty discussions regarding the Chagos Islands. In a letter sent to the UK leadership, Muizzu expressed deep disappointment that the Maldives was not consulted prior to the May 2025 agreement finalized by former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to transfer sovereignty of the archipelago to Mauritius.
The Maldives maintains a claim to the islands based on geographical proximity and historical ties, noting that the archipelago is approximately 500km from the Maldives, whereas Mauritius is significantly further away. The islands are of high strategic importance due to the presence of the Diego Garcia military base, which is a key UK-US facility. Under the existing agreement, the UK and US are slated to maintain control of the base for a 99-year period.
The sovereignty transfer plan faced opposition from US President Donald Trump, who characterized the deal as ‘a big mistake,’ leading the UK to temporarily shelve the plan in April. President Muizzu emphasized the need for meaningful dialogue to ensure regional stability and security in the Indian Ocean.
Entities
Andrew Burnham · Chagos Archipelago · Chagos Islands · Diego Garcia · Maldives · Mauritius · Mohamed Muizzu · United Kingdom
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] US President Donald Trump opposed the Chagos Islands deal, calling it ‘a big mistake’. haitigazette.com · see.mv · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Maldives claims sovereignty over the Chagos Islands based on historical ties and geographical proximity. haitigazette.com · see.mv · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [DISPUTED] The UK government stated that the Chagos sovereignty issue is a matter between the UK and Mauritius, not the Maldives. haitigazette.com · see.mv · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The agreement allows the UK and US to maintain control of the Diego Garcia military base for 99 years. haitigazette.com · see.mv · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [DISPUTED] President Mohamed Muizzu has requested UK Prime Minister Andrew Burnham to reopen sovereignty talks regarding the Chagos Islands. haitigazette.com · see.mv · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Former UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer finalized a deal in May 2025 to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. haitigazette.com · see.mv · trinidadtribune.com · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] President Muizzu expressed disappointment that the UK did not consult the Maldives regarding the sovereignty handover to Mauritius. haitigazette.com · see.mv · www.aljazeera.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Maldives is located approximately 500km from the Chagos Islands, whereas Mauritius is more than four times that distance away. haitigazette.com · see.mv · www.aljazeera.com