President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has invited UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham to begin formal discussions between the Maldives and the United Kingdom on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands.

The invitation was made in a letter to the British Prime Minister, in which President Dr Muizzu expressed concern over efforts to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The President highlighted the historical and geographical links between the Chagos Islands and the Maldives. He also expressed confidence that the Maldives and the UK can maintain and strengthen their longstanding relations while protecting the rights of the Maldivian state and its people.

The invitation comes amid an agreement between the UK and Mauritius concerning the Chagos Islands.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concluded that the separation of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius by the UK in 1965 was unlawful and called for the administration of the islands to be brought to an end as soon as possible. The UN General Assembly subsequently called for the islands to be returned to Mauritius.

The Maldivian Government has previously formally informed the UK of its opposition to the agreement with Mauritius, including through letters sent in November 2024 and January 2026.

Mauritius suspended diplomatic relations with the Maldives on 27 February over the Chagos issue. President Dr Muizzu has maintained that ending diplomatic relations would not give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.