Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid has stated that some media outlets are spreading false stories claiming that Ambassador Ghiala Ali said the Maldives is not working to reclaim Foalhavahi or Chagos. The Foreign Minister said this in response to some media reports alleging that the Maldivian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and the European Union had stated in the European Parliament that Chagos is not part of the Maldives and that they are not seeking to reclaim it.
In a post shared on social media, Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid said that Ambassador Ghiala Ali was questioned in the European Parliament about the U.S. military base in Chagos or Foalhavahi. He stated that in her response, the Ambassador did not say that the Maldives is not working to reclaim Foalhavahi or that it is not part of the Maldives. The Foreign Minister said that when asked about the U.S. military base there, the Ambassador replied that a U.S. military base has been established in Diego Garcia for a long time. The Ambassador also mentioned that the Maldives and the U.S. have a long-standing close relationship.
In his post, the Foreign Minister stated that contrary to established procedures, without the consent of the people and the Parliament, and without exploring other possible options, the rights to Foalhavahi were relinquished in 2022 during the MDP government. He added that the then-government did this through a secret letter. The Minister also emphasized that this fact cannot be hidden from the Maldivian people.
