Former President Mohamed Nasheed has said that the Maldives’ actions related to the Chagos issue may have been carried out with the consent of the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaking at a press conference at the President’s Office, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) ruling has resulted in the Maldives losing a significant portion of its southern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). He stated that the previous administration released part of the southern EEZ following a case filed by Mauritius and that the current government is taking legal steps to recover the area.

President Muizzu said a letter sent to the Prime Minister of Mauritius on 22 August 2022 by the former government had negatively affected Maldives’ territorial security. He also emphasized that the Maldives’ EEZ is clearly defined under international law, including areas that were later released.

To safeguard the southern EEZ, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) has launched a surveillance operation using the Coast Guard ship Dharumavantha and Air Corps drones.

Commenting on the operation, Nasheed wrote on X that it was possible the UK–Chagos agreement had been approved by former US President Donald Trump and that Chagos was not handed over to Mauritius. He suggested that the Maldivian Coast Guard may have acted with the consent of the UK and the US.

In his presidential address, President Dr Muizzu said the Maldives had sent two letters to the UK following its decision to cede Foalhavahi to Mauritius. He stressed that Foalhavahi has been known to Maldivians for centuries, forms part of Maldivian maritime history, and has long been used by Maldivian fishermen.

The President said the Maldives has consistently supported the transfer of sovereignty of Chagos to Mauritius, while maintaining that Maldivian historical and territorial interests must be respected.