President Dr Mohamed Muizzu stated that the Maldives holds the most legitimate claim to the Chagos Archipelago, in response to a journalist's query at a press briefing held at the President's Office today.
The President cited substantial historical ties between the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago, referencing a 16th-century letter accompanied by a map of Chagos, authored by King Hassan IX, as evidence that the Archipelago fell within the geographical boundaries of the Maldives even at that time. He maintained that, should administration of the Archipelago be transferred from the United Kingdom to any sovereign claimant, it ought rightfully to be vested in the Maldives.
The President further noted that the Government remains in active communication with the relevant authorities, stating that two letters have been dispatched and a call has been made to the British Prime Minister on the matter. He added that documentation on the issue will be prepared and submitted to the relevant international authorities.
At this year's Presidential Address, the President announced that he had formally communicated to the Prime Minister of Mauritius the Government's decision to rescind the letter dated 22 August 2022, issued by former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih to former Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. The letter concerned a shift in the Maldives' position with regard to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution entitled "Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the Legal Consequences of the Separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965".