President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has said that if the Maldives gains sovereignty over the southern Chagos islands, his Administration would seek to ensure the continued operation of the US military base on Diego Garcia through a constitutional process in Parliament.

In an interview with Newsweek, President Muizzu addressed concerns raised by US President Donald Trump over the 2023 agreement between the United Kingdom and Mauritius on Chagos. President Trump has warned that the deal could pose national security risks due to the strategic importance of the Diego Garcia base.

The Chagos Archipelago lies about 310 miles from Addu City and was separated from Mauritius by the UK in 1965. The islands were later leased to the United States until 2036 for the establishment of the Diego Garcia facility. Under last year’s UK–Mauritius agreement, control of the base remains with the UK and the US, while Mauritius receives an annual rent of around USD 137 million.

President Muizzu said President Trump’s concerns centre on ensuring the safe and uninterrupted operation of the base, which serves the defence interests of both the US and the UK. He stressed that, if sovereignty is granted to the Maldives, his government would work within constitutional frameworks to preserve existing arrangements.

The President also noted that the Maldives has previous experience managing the Chagos protected area, highlighting its capacity to administer the territory responsibly. The current Administration has pledged to appeal the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruling related to Chagos and has formed a committee to advance the country’s claim, maintaining that sovereignty would strengthen national interests while safeguarding regional security.