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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

‘Deeply ⁠disappointed’ Maldives demands Burnham reopens Chagos Island talks

  • Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu has written to prime minister Andy Burnham requesting the reopening of talks regarding the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands .
  • President Muizzu expressed deep disappointment that the Maldives was not consulted when former prime minister Keir Starmer agreed to cede the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.
  • The UK government previously agreed to transfer sovereignty while leasing back the strategic Diego Garcia military base, though the deal stalled following criticism from US president Donald Trump.
  • The Maldives maintains it holds the most legitimate historic claim to the archipelago and has requested a bilateral meeting to discuss the issue.
  • The Foreign Office has rejected the request, stating that sovereignty over the Chagos Islands remains strictly a matter between the UK and Mauritius.

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