President invites British Prime Minister for talks on Chagos sovereignty issue

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has extended an invitation to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to engage in discussions regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, the President's Office stated that President Muizzu extended this invitation in a letter addressed to the British Prime Minister, expressing concerns over the ongoing process to transfer the sovereignty of Chagos to Mauritius.

In his letter, President Muizzu highlighted that historical records identify Peros Banhos as a part of the Maldives, further noting its geographical proximity to the archipelago. The President also expressed his concerns regarding the ongoing efforts to transfer sovereignty of the island to Mauritius.

In his letter, President Muizzu expressed his full confidence in the continued advancement of the long-standing bilateral relations between the United Kingdom and the Maldives. Furthermore, the President assured that the Maldives would cooperate with the British government regarding the Chagos issue, while ensuring that the rights of the Maldivian state and its citizens remain protected.

In his address marking this year’s Independence Day, President Muizzu stated that the Chagos Islands should be handed over to the Maldivian people, adding that if such an outcome is not possible, maintaining the current status quo would be acceptable.

However, asserting that the previous administration's policy on this matter contradicted the Constitution and laws of the Maldives while undermining national interests, the current administration has taken action. As part of President Muizzu's "First 14 Weeks" roadmap, the Attorney General's Office has been mandated to undertake all necessary legal measures to seek a reversal of the ITLOS ruling regarding the Chagos archipelago.

Since then, the public has seen no significant progress by the government in fulfilling its pledge to recover the lost maritime territory.