Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel has strongly condemned what he described as deliberate misrepresentations by some online media outlets regarding statements made by Geela Ali, the Maldivian Ambassador to Belgium, during her recent address at the European Parliament.
According to Khaleel, reports claiming that Ambassador Geela declared Chagos as not part of the Maldives and that the country has no intention to reclaim it are entirely false. He clarified that the Ambassador was specifically responding to a question about the long-standing U.S. military base in Diego Garcia. In her response, Geela Ali simply noted that the base has existed for many years and highlighted the historically close relationship between the Maldives and the United States — without suggesting any change in the Maldives’ position on Chagos.
Khaleel further revealed that in 2022, during the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) government’s tenure, sovereignty rights over Foalhavahi (Peros Banhos) were secretly relinquished through an undisclosed letter. This decision, he stressed, was made without parliamentary approval, without consulting the Maldivian people, and without considering alternative options — a move he described as a serious breach of national trust and democratic principles.
The minister asserted that these facts cannot be hidden from the public and urged Maldivians to remain vigilant against politically motivated misinformation. His statement underscores the current administration’s commitment to protecting territorial integrity and promoting transparent governance.
This controversy highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding the Chagos Archipelago issue and raises critical questions about accountability and national sovereignty that continue to shape Maldivian foreign policy discourse.
