Maldives Tells UK It Will Not Recognise Chagos Islands Handover to Mauritius 2026

Key Points

• Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has informed the UK that his government “will not recognise” the deal handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
• The statement from Muizzu’s office highlights “profound historical and administrative ties” between Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago, asserting a prior sovereignty claim due to geographical proximity.
• Maldives raised concerns via written objections and a phone call with then-Foreign Secretary David Lammy last year, criticising the UK’s sole consultation with Mauritius.
• The Maldives threatens legal action to assert its own sovereignty over the islands.
• The UK-Mauritius deal, agreed under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, cedes sovereignty but retains a 99-year lease on the Diego Garcia military base at a cost of £120m annually (£35bn total).
• The deal follows a 2019 advisory International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling backing Mauritius’s claims.
• US President Donald Trump has withdrawn support, calling it a “big mistake” over concerns for the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, after initially appearing supportive.
• The intervention adds to criticisms of Starmer’s “beleaguered deal,” which faces chaos from Trump’s repeated urging to scrap it.

Maldives (Britain Today News) March 28, 2026 – President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives has delivered a stark rebuke to the United Kingdom, declaring that his nation “will not recognise” the controversial agreement to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. This intervention, detailed in a statement to the BBC, poses yet another challenge to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s foreign policy flagship, already battered by opposition from US President Donald Trump.

The Chagos Archipelago, a remote cluster of over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, has long been a flashpoint in decolonisation debates. The UK-Mauritius pact, signed last year, cedes sovereignty to Mauritius while securing a 99-year leaseback of the strategic Diego Garcia atoll, home to a vital joint UK-US military base. Under the terms, Britain commits to paying Mauritius at least £120 million annually, amounting to £35 billion in cash terms over the lease period.

Why Has the Maldives Rejected the UK-Mauritius Chagos Deal?

As reported by journalists at The Independent, the Maldives’ position stems from deep-rooted historical and geographical claims. In a formal statement to the BBC, President Muizzu’s office articulated:

“These diplomatic communications articulate the government’s firm position: the decision by the British government to proceed in sole consultation with Mauritius – without due consideration of Maldivian interests – is deeply concerning.”

The statement continued:

“Consequently, the Maldives has formally communicated that it does not recognise the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius. This position is based on the profound historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the archipelago, as well as the significant implications any such transfer holds for Maldivian sovereignty.”

Maldives officials emphasised their proximity to the islands, arguing it grants them a superior claim.

“The government of the Maldives maintains the firm position that, by virtue of historical and geographical proximity, it holds a prior claim to sovereign rights over the Chagos Archipelago over any other state,”

the statement asserted.

“Accordingly, if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it must rightfully be the Maldives.”

These concerns were first raised last year through written objections and a direct phone call between President Muizzu and David Lammy, then UK Foreign Secretary. The Independent notes that Maldives ministers have indicated they will review the 2019 ICJ advisory opinion, which favoured Mauritius but was non-binding.

What Is the Background of the UK’s Chagos Islands Deal with Mauritius?

The deal traces back to a 2019 advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which declared the UK’s separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965 unlawful under international law. Mauritius, which gained independence from Britain in 1968, has long claimed the archipelago as its own.

As covered extensively by The Independent, the UK government under Sir Keir Starmer proceeded with the handover, framing it as resolving a colonial legacy while safeguarding military interests. The agreement allows Britain to retain operational control of Diego Garcia indefinitely through the lease, ensuring the base’s role in regional security, intelligence, and operations remains intact.

However, the financial burden has drawn scrutiny. Britain’s annual £120 million payments to Mauritius – escalating over time – total £35 billion, a figure The Independent reporters have highlighted as controversial amid domestic fiscal pressures.

How Has Donald Trump Reacted to the Chagos Deal?

US President Donald Trump’s vocal opposition has plunged the agreement into turmoil. Initially appearing supportive last year, Trump reversed course in January 2026, labelling the move a “big mistake.” He reiterated criticisms in February, urging Starmer to abandon it due to risks to the Diego Garcia base, critical for US Indo-Pacific strategy.

The Independent reports that Trump’s withdrawal of support followed relentless pressure, including public statements tying the deal to broader UK-US relations. This marks a shift from his earlier stance, exacerbating the deal’s woes.

Is the Maldives Threatening Legal Action Over Chagos?

Yes, and emphatically so. The Independent details that the Maldives is preparing to challenge the deal legally, viewing the UK-Mauritius pact as overlooking its interests.

“The Maldives is now threatening legal action as it seeks to assert its own sovereignty over the islands,”

the outlet stated, citing the presidential office’s BBC communiqué.

This escalates tensions, as Maldives insists on its “prior claim” based on history – the archipelago was administered from what is now Maldives territory before British colonial rule. President Muizzu’s pro-India pivot since 2023 has also coloured perceptions, though his Chagos stance aligns with national sovereignty rhetoric.

What Are the Historical Ties Between Maldives and Chagos?

Historical records, as referenced in the Maldives statement covered by The Independent and BBC, underscore administrative links predating modern borders. The Chagos islands lay within the Maldives’ sphere of influence geographically, just 500 km south of Male, closer than to Mauritius (over 2,000 km away).

“The profound historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the archipelago,”

the statement noted, form the crux of their rejection. Maldives argues geographical proximity trumps the ICJ’s Mauritius-focused opinion.

How Has the UK Responded to Maldives’ Objections?

The UK Foreign Office has not yet issued a detailed public reply, though The Independent contacted both Muizzu’s office and the FCDO for comment. Ministers have steadfastly defended the Mauritius deal as fulfilling the 2019 ICJ advisory ruling, dismissing other claims.

David Lammy, now Foreign Secretary, received Muizzu’s concerns directly last year but proceeded. Critics within UK politics question the deal’s viability amid Trump’s stance and now Maldives’ intervention.

What Does This Mean for the Diego Garcia Military Base?

Diego Garcia remains operational, hosting RAF and US assets pivotal for operations from Afghanistan to the South China Sea. The lease secures this, but legal challenges could complicate access.

Trump’s concerns centre on reliability; The Independent quotes his view that handing sovereignty risks the base’s future, especially with Mauritius’s ties to China growing.

Why Is the Chagos Deal Described as ‘Beleaguered’?

Sir Keir Starmer’s flagship policy faces multi-front attacks. Domestically, Conservatives decry the £35bn cost and sovereignty loss. Trump’s public rebukes – from “big mistake” to calls to scrap – have eroded credibility. Now, Maldives’ non-recognition and legal threats compound the chaos.

As The Independent summarises, the intervention

“could serve as a further blow to the prime minister’s already beleaguered deal.”

Broader Implications for UK Foreign Policy?

This saga tests Starmer’s post-Brexit diplomacy. Ceding Chagos aimed to burnish UK’s global standing, but backlash underscores challenges in balancing decolonisation with security. Maldives’ move highlights Indian Ocean rivalries, with implications for trade routes and alliances.

Analysts, per The Independent’s coverage, warn of prolonged litigation, potentially tying up courts and straining UK-Mauritius ties ironically.

In summary, President Muizzu’s firm stance – backed by historical assertions and diplomatic outreach – injects fresh uncertainty. As The Independent has contacted parties for updates, the saga unfolds, with sovereignty, security, and billions at stake in this Indian Ocean dispute.