8th Sep 2026 13:41
(Alliance News) - The president of the Maldives has asked Andy Burnham to begin talks on the future of the Chagos Islands rather than continue efforts to hand over sovereignty to Mauritius.
In a letter to the UK prime minister, Mohamed Muizzu invited Burnham to enter into "meaningful dialogue" about sovereignty over the islands, which are home to the key UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
Burnham is said to back continuing Keir Starmer's plans to hand over sovereignty to Mauritius, which were paused in April after opposition from Donald Trump.
But the Maldives have repeatedly asserted their own claim to the archipelago, objecting to the UK's plans in December 2024 and January this year.
In his latest letter, Muizzu said he wanted to "reiterate my deep disappointment that the Maldives was not consulted with regards to the proposed change of sovereignty" and urged Burnham to "rectify this oversight by your predecessor".
Ahead of meetings between the UK and the Maldives later this month, he said: "It is our clear position that we wish to engage the government of the UK in meaningful dialogue about the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago.
"I would welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss this important issue and enhance relations between our two countries."
The Maldives government maintains that its own claim to the Chagos Islands is backed by historical ties and geographical proximity, being some 500 kilometres, 310 miles, away while Mauritius is more than four times that distance.
The government's Chagos deal, prompted by a ruling from the International Court of Justice, would see sovereignty transferred to Mauritius.
The deal would also see the Diego Garcia base leased back for 99 years, with an option to extend beyond that.
But it has been opposed by the Conservatives and the White House over concerns about security and the overall cost of the deal.
An FCDO spokesperson said: "We continue to speak to our counterparts in the Maldives on a regular basis about a range of issues.
"However, the question of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago is a matter for the UK and Mauritius, which is why the previous government launched negotiations with Mauritius on the issue in 2022, rather than with the Maldives."
By Christopher McKeon, Press Association Political Correspondent
Press Association: News
source: PA
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