Maldives tells the UK it ‘will not recognise’ Chagos Islands deal
The President of the Maldives has told Britain that he “will not recognize” Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The intervention could serve as a fresh blow to the Prime Minister’s already beleaguered deal, which has come under fierce criticism from Donald Trump over the future of a joint UK-US military base in Diego Garcia.
The plan would see the government give up sovereignty over British territory after a 2019 advisory ruling by the International Court of Justice backed Mauritius’ sovereignty claims over the islands.
However, the Maldives is threatening to take legal action to assert its sovereignty over the islands.
In a statement to the BBC, President Mohamed Muizzu’s office said he had expressed his concerns both in written objections and in a telephone conversation with then-foreign minister David Lammy last year.
“These diplomatic communications set out the government’s definitive position: the British government’s decision to solely consult with Mauritius, without taking into account the interests of the Maldives, is deeply concerning,” the statement said. The statement was included.
“As a result, the Maldives has officially stated that it does not recognize the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
“This position is based on the deep historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the archipelago, as well as the significant consequences such a transfer carries for Maldivian sovereignty.”
However, ministers had previously stated that the islands would be handed over to Mauritius following a 2019 advisory International Court of Justice decision, which the Maldives told the BBC it would review.
“The government of the Maldives maintains its firm position that, due to historical and geographical proximity, it has sovereign rights over any other state over the Chagos Archipelago,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it should rightfully be the Maldives.”
Independent He contacted President Mohamed Muizzu’s office and the British Foreign Office.
Sir Keir’s deal to hand over the territory while retaining control of the UK-US military base in Diego Garcia has been thrown into chaos after the US president repeatedly warned him to cancel it.
Britain agreed to pay Mauritius at least £120 million a year under a 99-year deal to lease back the site; This represents a total cost of £35bn in cash.
Mr Trump withdrew his support for the deal, calling the move a “big mistake” due to concerns about a joint military base.
His withdrawal of support came after he expressed support for the deal last year, then criticized it in January and February.
Iran fired a missile at a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean last weekend amid Washington’s ongoing war against Tehran.
Diego Garcia is about 3,360 miles from Iran and hosts an air base that can accommodate long-range U.S. bombers, with about 2,500 American troops stationed on the island.
