Maldives Rejects UK–Mauritius Chagos Deal, Signals Legal Challenge

The Maldives has formally rejected a deal between the United Kingdom and Mauritius over the transfer of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, escalating tensions in the region.

President Mohamed Muizzu has conveyed the country’s opposition, describing the agreement as “deeply concerning.” According to his office, the Maldives submitted two formal written objections and raised the matter directly in a phone call with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

The Maldives is now asserting its own claim over the Chagos Islands and has warned it may pursue international legal action to challenge the agreement.

The UK government has rejected the Maldives’ position. Stephen Doughty stated that sovereignty over the islands is an issue solely between Britain and Mauritius. A government source added that international courts have previously ruled in favor of Mauritius regarding the disputed territory.

The Chagos Islands, officially administered as the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been under British control since the early 19th century. In 2025, the UK agreed to transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while maintaining access to a joint UK–US military base on Diego Garcia through a long-term lease valued at approximately £101 million annually.

Mauritius has long argued that the islands were unlawfully separated during the colonial period and has pursued its claim through international legal channels.

The Maldives’ intervention introduces a new layer of complexity to the long-running dispute, raising the prospect of further legal battles over one of the Indian Ocean’s most strategically significant territories.