Maldives president invites UK prime minister for talks on Chagos sovereignty

President Mohamed Muizzu has invited British Prime Minister Andrew Burnham for formal talks on sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.

The President’s Office confirmed Tuesday that Muizzu had sent a letter to the British prime minister.

According to the President’s Office, the letter expressed concern over Britain’s decision to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. It also:

The President’s Office said Muizzu described meaningful consultations between the Maldives and Britain on the islands’ sovereignty as important. He also said stronger relations between the two countries could contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean as tensions increase in several parts of the world.

The invitation comes after the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued a decision in April 2024 concerning the maritime boundary between the Maldives’ southern maritime area and the northern maritime area around the Chagos Islands.

Under the decision, a 92,563-square-kilometre area was divided between the two countries:

The then opposition and current ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) criticised the decision, saying the Maldives had lost part of an important area in the south.

Recovering what the government says is the lost maritime area forms part of Muizzu’s presidential pledges. Although the government has said it is preparing to bring the matter before ITLOS, it has not provided an update on that process.

Muizzu has previously sent a letter to the British government stating that the Chagos Islands belong to the Maldives. Former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih also sent a letter making the same claim to the Mauritian prime minister. Muizzu announced the return of that letter in this year’s presidential address, two years after taking office.

The People’s Majlis has not yet reached a decision on whether to return the letter.