Mauritius is ready to consult with the Maldives to find a peaceful resolution to the Chagos issue: Nasheed
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has revealed that Mauritius is ready to engage in discussions with the Maldivian government to reach a peaceful resolution regarding the Chagos archipelago dispute, which had previously led to a severance of diplomatic ties. Following a meeting with the Mauritian Foreign Minister in India, Nasheed expressed his hope that the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would seize this opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations. Mauritius had initially cut ties with the Maldives due to disagreements over sovereignty claims in the Chagos region.
Nasheed briefs the press upon his return to the Maldives following an official visit to New Delhi, India, to participate in the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD). | Raajje MV
Former President Mohamed Nasheed has stated that Mauritius, which had previously severed diplomatic ties with the Maldives over the Chagos dispute, is now ready to engage in dialogue with the Maldivian government to seek a peaceful resolution to the issue.
Nasheed made these remarks while briefing the press upon his return to the Maldives, following his participation in the Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) held in New Delhi, India.
Nasheed stated that he met and held discussions with the Foreign Minister of Mauritius during his visit. Nasheed noted that when he requested to discuss the ongoing dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius, the Foreign Minister expressed his readiness to engage in those talks.
I met with the Foreign Minister of Mauritius. As you are aware, diplomatic ties between the Maldives and Mauritius have currently been severed. I urged the Minister to engage in dialogue with the Maldives to find a peaceful resolution that benefits both nations. It is never ideal to lack diplomatic relations, especially with neighboring countries. They expressed their readiness to move forward.Former President Mohamed Nasheed
He further expressed his hope that the Maldivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs would seize this opportunity to engage and move forward with the Government of Mauritius.
Mauritius has decided to sever diplomatic ties with the Maldives due to the latter's refusal to recognize Mauritian sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago and its opposition to the agreement for the United Kingdom to transfer the islands to Mauritius. Despite international court rulings affirming Mauritius's sovereignty over Chagos, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced on February 5th that his administration would not abide by those decisions.
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an intergovernmental organization comprising 23 member states bordering the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean Dialogue, hosted by the association, serves as a key platform for high-level discussions on regional security and stability.
