Trump backs UK after Muizzu challenges British decision to hand over Chagos to Mauritius
While President Muizzu has announced efforts to reclaim the maritime territory lost following the ITLOS ruling on the Chagos dispute, the Maldivian military has reportedly begun patrolling Mauritian waters as of Thursday.
Members of the Chagosian community, who identify as the native inhabitants of the Chagos Islands, protest outside the British Parliament with banners and placards against the UK government's decision to hand over the archipelago to Mauritius — October 7, 2024 | AFP | AFP
As President Mohamed Muizzu announced on Thursday that the Maldives objects to the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his support for the British decision.
Speaking at the People’s Majlis, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated that the Maldivian government has formally communicated its rejection of the UK’s decision, lodging official objections with the British government on November 8, 2024, and January 18, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the President's Office, President Muizzu expressed the Maldives' interest in pursuing further discussions on this matter during a telephone conversation with the UK Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, on December 15.
Delivering the 2024 Presidential Address to the People’s Majlis, President Muizzu stated that legal efforts have now commenced to reclaim the maritime territory lost following the ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Furthermore, President Muizzu announced the government's decision to void the letter sent to Mauritius by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on August 22, 2022, which formally recognized Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
Following President Muizzu's decision, the Ministry of Defence has announced that the Maldives National Defence Force has commenced surveillance of the maritime area designated by ITLOS as the territory of Mauritius.
Amidst these developments, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he has reversed his previous stance and now supports the agreement for the United Kingdom to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Following discussions with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Donald Trump stated in a post on Truth Social that he reserves the right to "protect and strengthen" U.S. authority over Diego Garcia should the United Kingdom terminate the military base agreement or if the facility faces any potential threats.
This development comes at a time of heated debate between the United States and the United Kingdom regarding the Chagos issue.
Planned debates in the British Parliament regarding the agreement to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius were postponed last month following criticism from Donald Trump.
Debate over the agreement has resurfaced following Donald Trump’s remarks, in which he characterized the deal signed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius as an "act of total stupidity."
Under an agreement signed between the United Kingdom and Mauritius last May, the British colonial rule over the Chagos Islands, which spanned more than two centuries, is set to end, with sovereignty being transferred to Mauritius. In exchange, the United Kingdom and the United States have secured the right to continue operating the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base for the next 99 years.
The Chagos Archipelago, comprising more than 60 islands across seven atolls, is situated in the central Indian Ocean, approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Maldives.
