Maldives rethinks strategy amid Chagos shift to Mauritius

Attorney General Ahmed Usham announced Wednesday that the Maldivian government must adjust its approach in efforts to explore the south sea following the United Kingdom's decision to transfer sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

The move, formalized through an agreement between the UK and Mauritius, also impacts the Maldives as it seeks to define and assert its southern maritime boundaries.

The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) had issued a ruling clarifying the disputed maritime demarcation between the Chagos Archipelago and the Maldives. The tribunal determined that the delimitation should be drawn from the coastline of the Chagos Islands, which ITLOS and the broader international community recognize as Mauritian territory. This decision marks the first official definition of the southern boundary of the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), impacting Maldives’ maritime rights and access to valuable resources in this zone.

At a press conference held at the President's Office, Attorney General Usham addressed questions about whether the UK's transfer of the Chagos Islands would complicate Maldives' efforts to uphold its maritime interests. Usham explained that the government's strategy would indeed require adjustments in light of recent developments.

"We were preparing to submit the advisory report by international experts to the Cabinet," Usham said, noting that the timing of the UK’s decision created challenges.

"There are challenges. It is a decision that requires us to change our strategy," he added, emphasizing the need to engage foreign experts once more as the Maldives recalibrates its approach.

Despite the government’s efforts, the opposition has voiced concerns that Maldives' interests in the south sea were not adequately defended. They argue that this situation directly conflicts with a presidential campaign pledge to secure part of the south sea for the Maldives.

The UK and Mauritius announced on October 3rd that they would formally end the UK's 50-year administration of the Chagos Islands, located about 400 miles south of the Maldivian atoll of Addu.

According to the joint statement, Chagos, including the island of Diego Garcia—where a major U.S. military base operates—would be recognized as sovereign territory of Mauritius. However, Diego Garcia will continue to host the U.S. base, as agreed by both parties.

The transfer of Chagos to Mauritius came after over a year of negotiations and represents a significant shift in the region's geopolitics. The Mauritian government had long argued that Britain, when granting Mauritius independence in 1968, had retained control over the islands as a colonial imposition. Since then, approximately 1,000 Chagos residents were forcibly removed to allow for the construction of the Diego Garcia base. Mauritius has since advocated for the right to Chagos, seeking resettlement for displaced islanders and recognition of full sovereignty over the archipelago.