Maldives Stakes Claim Over Chagos Waters, Revises Stance Amid Growing India–Mauritius Engagement

New Delhi: Months after India agreed to support Mauritius in the surveillance of its expanded territorial waters around the Chagos Archipelago, the Maldives has announced plans to expand its Special Economic Zone (SEZ) to include parts of the disputed maritime area, signalling a renewed assertion of its claims and reshaping regional geopolitical dynamics.

Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Wednesday (February 4) formally withdrew a 2022 letter issued by the previous administration to Mauritius, which had altered Malé’s position on the legal status of the Chagos Archipelago. The move reverses a key diplomatic shift made under former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and underscores the Muizzu government’s intent to reclaim what it describes as Maldives’ historical and legal rights over the region.

Reversal of Earlier Position on Chagos

In a statement, the Maldivian President’s Office said Muizzu had conveyed the decision to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, withdrawing the August 22, 2022 letter that endorsed a United Nations General Assembly resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the separation of Chagos from Mauritius in 1965.

The announcement was made during Muizzu’s presidential address at the opening of the first session of the 20th People’s Majlis. Maldivian media reported that the withdrawal letter was signed shortly after the address and is expected to be formally transmitted to Port Louis.

Government Review Finds ‘Adverse Impact’

According to the President’s Office, the current administration conducted a review of actions taken by the previous government before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The review concluded that the mid-proceedings shift in Maldives’ position had an “adverse and detrimental effect” on national interests.

Muizzu ordered the establishment of a national enquiry to investigate how the earlier position was altered, describing the change under the Solih administration as “sudden and unexplained,” “unreasonable,” and undertaken without due process.

Maldives Asserts Historical and Legal Claims

Reiterating Maldives’ claim over the islands—known locally as Foalhavahi—Muizzu argued that the country is geographically closer, historically connected, and legally better placed than Mauritius to assert sovereignty. He cited a 16th-century royal decree issued by a Maldivian Sultan as historical evidence supporting the claim.

During his parliamentary address, Muizzu also announced plans to expand Maldives’ SEZ to cover the disputed maritime area. He said amendments to the Maritime Zones of Maldives Act would be introduced in parliament and that a dedicated office would be established to define maritime regions, set baselines, and coordinate matters related to maritime territory.

Strategic Importance of the Chagos Archipelago

The Chagos Archipelago, located around 500 kilometres south of the Maldives and 2,200 kilometres from Mauritius, is of major strategic significance as it hosts the Diego Garcia military base, jointly operated by the United States and the United Kingdom.

In May 2025, Britain formally transferred sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius under an agreement that included a 99-year lease for the military base, valued at over £3 billion. India welcomed the deal as a milestone and has since expanded its strategic role in the region.

India–Mauritius Cooperation and Regional Tensions

During Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam’s visit to New Delhi in September 2025, India announced it would assist Mauritius with maritime surveillance of its newly expanded waters around Chagos as part of a $680 million aid package. The move was widely seen as deepening India’s strategic engagement in the Indian Ocean.

The maritime boundary between the Maldives and Chagos became contentious after Mauritius approached ITLOS. In April 2023, the tribunal divided the overlapping exclusive economic zones, awarding 47,232 sq km to the Maldives and 45,331 sq km to Mauritius out of a disputed 95,563 sq km area.

Political Fallout and Allegations of External Influence

The ITLOS ruling triggered a political crisis in the Maldives. The opposition—then led by Muizzu’s party—accused the Solih government of treason, alleging that it had abandoned a neutral stance on Chagos sovereignty midway through the proceedings. Former Attorney General Dr Mohamed Munavvar claimed India had influenced the reversal in favour of its close ally Mauritius, an allegation denied by the Solih administration.

Mauritius has been strategically aligned with India since independence, with 65–70% of its population of Indian origin. Former President Solih maintained that his letter to Mauritius related to decolonisation and self-determination, and not to the ITLOS maritime boundary case.

Balancing Sovereignty Claims and Regional Diplomacy

Muizzu won the 2023 presidential election partly on a pledge to reclaim the disputed maritime territory, although ITLOS decisions are final and legally binding. His campaign also criticised what he described as excessive Indian influence in Maldivian affairs under the previous government.

While India–Maldives relations were strained during Muizzu’s first year in office, ties have since improved, highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Maldives in 2025. Nevertheless, the latest developments indicate that the Chagos dispute remains a sensitive and strategically significant issue in the evolving geopolitics of the Indian Ocean region.