Maldives' Muizzu asks UK PM Burnham to reopen talks over Chagos Islands sovereignty - Reuters

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has sent a letter to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham asking that talks on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands be reopened. The correspondence was conveyed through a statement issued by a Maldivian spokesperson on Tuesday.

The Chagos Islands, administered by the United Kingdom as part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, have been the subject of a long‑standing dispute with Mauritius, which claims sovereignty over the archipelago. International legal proceedings and diplomatic negotiations have addressed the issue in recent years.

In the letter, President Muizzu emphasized that the islands should not be transferred to Mauritius, reiterating the Maldives’ position that any resolution should respect its own interests and regional concerns. The president’s remarks underscore the Maldives’ stance amid broader discussions about the future status of the territory.

The request to revive negotiations was formally communicated from London, where the letter was addressed to Prime Minister Burnham. The Maldivian government indicated that it seeks to engage directly with the United Kingdom to explore possible pathways for a mutually acceptable outcome.

The outreach follows previous rounds of dialogue between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, as well as United Nations involvement, and signals the Maldives’ intention to play a more active role in any forthcoming settlement concerning the Chagos Islands.