Mauritius has announced the severing of diplomatic relations with the Maldives following the Maldivian government’s position on the Chagos Islands dispute.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Dharambeer Gokhool. An internal circular sent to Mauritian authorities and seen by local media confirmed that the Maldives had been officially informed.
Mauritius’ move comes after President Mohamed Muizzu made clear that the Maldives does not recognise Mauritius’ claim of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, and does not accept the agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius regarding the handover of the territory.
In his third Presidential Address at the opening session of the People’s Majlis on February 5, President Muizzu reaffirmed the Maldives’ sovereign rights under national law.
“Referring to the archipelagic base points in the Maritime Areas Act, I conclude that the SEZ is the area already defined in the law, including the demarcated marine area and declare it in the presence of you, Honourable Members of Parliament,” the President stated.
Following the address, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) announced that it had taken control of the relevant maritime area in accordance with Maldivian law.
The Chagos Islands are currently home to a British military base. The United Kingdom agreed last year to transfer sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius, while leasing the land for military purposes at a reported cost of USD 100 million per year. The deal has drawn international attention, including criticism from former US President Donald Trump.
In 2021, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that the United Kingdom does not hold sovereignty over the Chagos Islands. At the same time, the tribunal demarcated the Maldives’ southern maritime boundary.
Historical records have also indicated that former Maldivian Sultans considered the Chagos Islands as part of the Maldivian realm.
President Muizzu’s administration has consistently maintained that safeguarding the Maldives’ territorial integrity and sovereign rights remains a top priority. While Mauritius’ decision marks a rare diplomatic development, the Maldives has reiterated its commitment to defending its lawful maritime boundaries and national interests.
The tension between Maldives and Mauritius emerged primarily over maritime boundary delimitation in the Indian Ocean.
Mauritius initiated proceedings before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to delimit its maritime boundary with Maldives, arguing that it had sovereignty over Chagos and therefore overlapping EEZ claims.
