The government has stated that the Maldives is preparing to take legal action to stop the United Kingdom's decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
A spokesperson for the Maldivian Foreign Ministry confirmed to the British newspaper The Telegraph that the Maldivian government is researching the legal avenues available to challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to grant sovereignty of Chagos to Mauritius.
According to the newspaper, the Maldives believes its territorial rights over those islands are far stronger than the claim made by Mauritius. A government spokesperson stated that the UK's decision is not sufficiently based on international legal principles.
The Telegraph reported that this claim by the Maldives presents a new obstacle to Prime Minister Starmer's plan.
The government spokesperson stated that the Maldives will not waive any legal or diplomatic actions available in accordance with international laws.
"The Maldivian government remains committed to protecting and promoting the sovereign rights and maritime interests of the Maldivian people in accordance with international laws," he said, speaking under the name of a government spokesperson without revealing his identity.
He noted that although the Maldives has not officially filed a case against any country at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago, the government is currently researching possible actions. He added that a comprehensive legal review is underway and discussions are ongoing with international legal experts and relevant Maldivian authorities.
Furthermore, the spokesperson stated that the Maldives' diplomatic concerns regarding the agreement have been officially shared with the British government. He revealed that letters were sent to the UK regarding this matter in November 2024 and most recently in January 2026.
The spokesperson also mentioned that along with requesting official discussions with the British government, the government is performing the necessary diplomatic work for that purpose.
"Even though an official case regarding this agreement has not been submitted to an international court so far, if a solution is not found through discussions and if a satisfactory answer to the Maldives' concerns is not received, the opportunity exists to take further legal and diplomatic measures in accordance with international laws," the spokesperson said.
Former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shakoor, who advocates for the Chagos issue, also gave an interview to the newspaper. She stated that the Chagos islands are the land of Maldivians and that those lands must be returned.
"The Maldives has the strongest claim that can be made over Chagos. And we are the ones who possess the legal right over that land," Azima said.
Azima stated that the British government must respect the rights of Maldivians and completely stop the process of handing Chagos over to Mauritius. The native inhabitants of Chagos are working to permanently resettle on a deserted island in the region, which is the home of their ancestors.
Because the Maldives is working on the Chagos issue, Mauritius has suspended diplomatic relations with the Maldives.
The Maldivian government has not yet said anything regarding this decision by Mauritius.
