President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended an invitation to the British Prime Minister for official talks and engagement on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

The President conveyed the invitation in a letter addressed to the British Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Andrew Burnham MP, today. In the letter, the President expressed the Maldives’ concerns regarding the United Kingdom’s decision to proceed with the handover of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The President highlighted the shared history and cultural ties between the Maldives and Chagos, as well as the Maldives’ longstanding support for major marine conservation and scientific research expeditions in the region. In this regard, he reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to maintaining a reliable and constructive partnership with the United Kingdom on matters relating to Chagos, while safeguarding the legitimate interests of the Maldivian state and its people.

President Dr Muizzu reiterated the importance of meaningful dialogue between the United Kingdom and the Maldives on matters concerning the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago. He further expressed hope that renewed engagement and partnership between the two countries would contribute to stability and security in the Indian Ocean, particularly at a time of increasing global uncertainty.