The Chagos sovereignty issue is a matter solely between the United Kingdom and Mauritius: UK
Despite the Maldivian government's official objection to the United Kingdom's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, the UK has maintained that the matter remains an exclusive bilateral issue between the two nations.
Diego Garcia is the largest atoll island of the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean, located 1600 km south of Hindustan and 1200 km south of the Maldives. | artemjew.ru
The United Kingdom has asserted that the issue of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is a matter solely between the UK and Mauritius.
The British government made this statement on Friday, following President Mohamed Muizzu’s declaration that the Maldives would not accept the ITLOS ruling regarding the Chagos archipelago dispute.
In a statement issued to the Anadolu News Agency regarding objections raised by the Maldives, the British Foreign Office asserted that various courts, international rulings, and institutions have clearly established that the issue of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands is a matter strictly between the United Kingdom and Mauritius.
The Maldivian government on Thursday formally expressed its objection to the United Kingdom’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
However, the British Foreign Office noted that the treaty includes robust security provisions concerning Diego Garcia to ensure that the operations of the military base located there remain entirely unaffected.
Furthermore, the office stated that this agreement will secure the military base for future generations and ensure the United Kingdom maintains the essential capabilities required to confront various emerging threats.
The United Kingdom and Mauritius signed an agreement last May to transfer sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius. This historic accord marks the end of more than 200 years of British colonial rule over the Chagos Islands. In exchange, the United Kingdom and the United States will be granted the right to continue operating the strategically vital Diego Garcia military base for the next 99 years.
The agreement has not yet entered into force, as the internal ratification processes in both countries are still ongoing.
The Chagos Archipelago, also known as Foalhavahi, consists of seven atolls and more than 60 islands, located approximately 500 kilometers (310 miles) south of the Maldives.
