President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has today described Mauritius' decision to suspend diplomatic relations with Maldives over the ongoing dispute surrounding the Chagos archipelago as "unreasonable".
The President said that the decision is unreasonable, adding that the decision "will not change the reality".
Cutting ties with Maldives will not change the fact that Mauritius cannot have sovereign claim over a place that does not belong to them, President Muizzu continued. If Chagos is to be handed over to any country, it should be to those who are entitled to it, which is the Maldives, the President asserted.
"So that fact will not change through a country cutting ties with our nation. Taking such a decision without discussion is a very naive, immature move. Maldives' stand will not change. We will go forward with the 'Maldives First' policy," the President stated.
The government has also announced that it is preparing to take legal action against the UK's decision to hand over Chagos to Mauritius.
The Maldives believes its territorial rights over Chagos are far stronger than the claim made by Mauritius. The Maldivian government is currently researching the legal avenues available to challenge British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's decision to grant sovereignty of Chagos to Mauritius.
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. The government has also said that a comprehensive legal review is underway and discussions are ongoing with international legal experts and relevant Maldivian authorities.
Maldives' diplomatic concerns regarding the agreement have been officially shared with the British government, with letters sent to the UK regarding this matter in November 2024 and most recently in January 2026, according to the government.
