The president of the Maldives has told the UK he “will not recognise” Sir Keir Starmer’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The intervention could serve as a further blow to the prime minister’s already beleaguered deal, which has been subject to relentless criticism from Donald Trump over the future of the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.
The plan will see the government cede sovereignty of the British territory after an advisory International Court of Justice ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty over the islands.
But the Maldives is now threatening legal action as it seeks to assert its own sovereignty over the islands.
In a statement to the BBC, President Mohamed Muizzu’s office said he had raised concerns with both written objections and in a phone call with David Lammy, the then foreign secretary, last year.
“These diplomatic communications articulate the government’s firm position: the decision by the British government to proceed in sole consultation with Mauritius – without due consideration of Maldivian interests – is deeply concerning,” the statement reportedly said.
“Consequently, the Maldives has formally communicated that it does not recognise the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
“This position is based on the profound historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the archipelago, as well as the significant implications any such transfer holds for Maldivian sovereignty.”
However, ministers have previously said the islands would be handed over to Mauritius following the 2019 advisory International Court of Justice ruling, a decision the Maldives told the BBC it would be reviewing.
“The government of the Maldives maintains the firm position that, by virtue of historical and geographical proximity, it holds a prior claim to sovereign rights over the Chagos Archipelago over any other state,” the statement said.
“Accordingly, if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it must rightfully be the Maldives.”
The Independent has contacted President Mohamed Muizzu’s office and the UK’s Foreign Office.
Sir Keir’s deal to hand over the territory while retaining control of the UK-US military base on Diego Garcia has been plunged into chaos after the US president repeatedly urged him to scrap it.
The UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at least £120m annually during the 99-year agreement to lease back the site, a total cost in cash terms of £35bn.
Mr Trump has withdrawn his support for the deal, branding the move a “big mistake” because of concerns over the joint military base.
His withdrawal of support came after he appeared to indicate his support for the deal last year, before criticising it in January and again in February.
Iran fired missiles at the joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean last weekend amid Washington’s ongoing war on Tehran.
Diego Garcia is around 2,360 miles away from Iran and home to an airbase capable of accommodating long-range US bombers, with around 2,500 American troops based on the island.
