Maldives President seeks renewed dialogue with UK on Chagos sovereignty

LONDON - Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has appealed to British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to restart discussions on the future status of the Chagos Islands, according to a statement issued by the Maldivian presidential office on Tuesday.

The letter from Muizzu represents a formal request to reengage in talks over the strategically significant archipelago, which has long been a source of contention between the United Kingdom and Mauritius, with the Maldives also asserting an interest in the matter.

The Chagos Islands dispute has remained unresolved for decades, with competing claims to the territory and questions over its administration continuing to generate diplomatic friction in the Indian Ocean region. The British government has maintained sovereignty over the islands, which host a significant military base.

Muizzu's written request signals the Maldives' intention to participate in any future negotiations regarding the territory's status. The timing of the letter comes amid broader geopolitical shifts in South and Southeast Asia.

The British Prime Minister's office has not yet publicly responded to the Maldivian leader's initiative. Previous attempts to resolve the Chagos Islands question through international channels have yielded limited progress.