UK stands firm on Diego Garcia as Maldives calls for formal Chagos negotiations

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom will not abandon its military presence in Diego Garcia and will be unequivocal in protecting the right of Falkland Islanders to remain British citizens.

His remarks come amid ongoing uncertainty over the UK’s agreement to cede sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, a deal first negotiated under former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The agreement would transfer sovereignty to Mauritius while allowing the UK to lease back Diego Garcia, which hosts the joint UK-US military base. The deal has been in limbo since April after US approval stalled, following concerns raised by President Donald Trump.  

Prime Minister Burnham said further discussions are underway with the US government regarding the future of the base.   

The British Prime Minister’s comments follow President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s call for formal talks with the UK on the sovereignty of Chagos. The President sent a letter of invitation to Burnham earlier this week. The President’s Office said on Tuesday that the President expressed concern over the UK’s decision to hand the islands to Mauritius, highlighting the historical and cultural ties between Maldives and Chagos, as well as Maldives’ efforts to protect the marine environment of the region.

The President also stressed the importance of meaningful dialogue with the UK to safeguard the rights and interests of the Maldivian state and its people.

However, the UK Foreign Office maintains that the sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago is a matter strictly between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. 

It was revealed in April that Britain had suspended implementation of the Chagos agreement due to the lack of formal US approval.