Mauritius suspends diplomatic relations with Maldives over Chagos stance

Mauritius has announced it will immediately suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives, linking the move to Malé’s recent position on the Chagos Archipelago and the UK–Mauritius agreement covering the territory.

In a communiqué issued after the Cabinet meeting held on Friday, the Government of Mauritius said it had “taken note” that the Maldives no longer recognises Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and is objecting to the UK–Mauritius agreement, and that “in view thereof” Cabinet decided to suspend diplomatic relations with the Maldives.

The diplomatic break comes amid heightened attention on the Chagos Archipelago, home to the strategic Diego Garcia military base used by the United States and the United Kingdom.

In May 2025, the UK and Mauritius signed an agreement under which Mauritius would exercise sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, while the UK would retain rights on Diego Garcia through a long-term arrangement. UK parliamentary ratification has been politically contested, with British officials and media reporting confusion in recent days over whether the ratification process has been delayed or “paused” amid discussions with Washington.

Mauritius’ Cabinet communiqué also referenced delays in the UK legislative process related to the Diego Garcia base and said the process would be activated once an agreement between the UK and the US is reached.

Maldives authorities have, in recent weeks, publicly objected to the UK–Mauritius arrangement on Chagos and moved to withdraw earlier Maldivian supn, framing the issue as linked to maritime claims and past legal positions.

Mauritius’ Cabinet statement makes the suspension of diplomatic relations a direct response to that shift.

The Chagos Islands were depopulated in the 1960s and 1970s to facilitate the establishment of a US and UK military base on Diego Garcia.

On 28 April 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued a ruling on the maritime boundary dispute between the southern coast of the Maldives and the northern coast of the Chagos archipelago. The tribunal divided the disputed area of 92,563 square kilometres, allocating 47,232 square kilometres to the Maldives and 45,331 square kilometres to Mauritius.

The ruling was criticised by the then opposition, now ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), which said the Maldives had lost part of its southern maritime zone. Reclaiming the disputed area was included as a pledge in the presidential campaign.

President Mohamed Muizzu has stated that the Maldives intends to pursue legal avenues to reclaim the area. He has also written to the British government asserting that the Chagos Islands belong to the Maldives.