President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has invited British Prime Minister Andy Burnham for official discussions on the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago, as the Maldives intensifies diplomatic efforts to ensure its interests are considered in any settlement concerning the strategically important Indian Ocean islands.
The invitation represents a further step in Malé’s engagement with London over Chagos, amid the Maldives’ objections to transferring sovereignty over the archipelago to Mauritius.
President Muizzu has maintained that the Maldives has a legitimate historical claim to Chagos and that the country’s position cannot be ignored when decisions are taken over the future of the islands.
The President’s Office previously said Muizzu had cited historical evidence, including a 16th-century letter and map attributed to Maldivian King Hassan IX, in support of the country’s claim. The President has argued that if Britain transfers administration of the archipelago to another sovereign claimant, the Maldives should be considered.
The Muizzu administration has also reversed the Maldives’ previous position on the dispute. In February, the President formally withdrew a 2022 letter issued under former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih concerning the Maldives’ position on the Chagos Archipelago and the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion.
Malé had earlier submitted written objections to the United Kingdom over the proposed transfer and sought further consultations with British authorities.
Significantly, President Muizzu is positioning renewed UK-Maldives engagement beyond the sovereignty dispute itself, linking the issue to stability and security across the Indian Ocean.
That dimension carries wider geopolitical significance because Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, hosts a strategically important UK-US military facility. Britain is continuing discussions with Mauritius over the Chagos arrangement, while retaining the Diego Garcia base remains a major security consideration for London.
The latest diplomatic move signals that Malé intends to remain directly engaged as Britain considers the future of Chagos, with President Muizzu seeking to place the Maldives’ historical claims, sovereignty concerns and Indian Ocean security interests firmly on the negotiating agenda.
