The Government of the Maldives has welcomed the United Kingdom’s decision to suspend the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago (Foalhavahi) to Mauritius. This strategic reversal by the UK follows concerns raised by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the agreement. The Maldivian government views this pause as a pivotal opportunity to pursue and establish the Maldives’ sovereign rights over the archipelago.
Geographically, the Chagos Archipelago is located significantly closer to the Maldives, at a distance of only 310 miles, compared to its 1,300-mile distance from Mauritius. Historical records dating back to the 16th century, along with the discovery of tombstones featuring Maldivian inscriptions on the islands, provide compelling evidence of the Maldives’ historical jurisdiction over the territory. Furthermore, DNA analysis of the archipelago’s original inhabitants reveals a Maldivian ancestral heritage. Based on these geographical, historical, and genealogical grounds, the Maldivian government maintains that the Maldives is the rightful claimant to the islands.
