Muizzu Announces Legal Action to Reclaim ‘Forfeited Maldivian Sea Territory’

President Mohamed Muizzu has announced the start of legal action to reclaim what he described as a forfeited portion of the Maldivian sea, following the completion of a government-commissioned review into the country’s maritime boundaries.

Delivering the Presidential Address at the opening of the 20th Parliament this morning, Muizzu said a coordinating committee appointed after he took office had completed its work and submitted a report to the Cabinet. He said the Cabinet had decided to proceed in line with expert advice contained in the report.

“In accordance with the advice given by legal experts, we have commenced the legal work necessary to reclaim the part of the Maldivian sea that was forfeited,” the President told Parliament.

Muizzu said international experts had concluded that the security of the Maldives’ strategic territory had been adversely affected by a letter sent by former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He said the government had therefore decided to withdraw the letter “in the interest of the state and its citizens”.

The President said the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) remains unchanged in law for the time being, including the area in question. However, he announced that amendments to the Maritime Zones Act would be submitted to Parliament.

Muizzu also said experts had recommended the creation of a permanent institution to oversee matters related to Maldivian territory, baselines and maritime zones. He announced plans to establish a dedicated office for Maldivian territories to ensure sustained work in this area.

He accused the previous administration of causing “irreparable and significant damage” through decisions taken on maritime issues and said those responsible would be questioned to determine their motives. Muizzu said he would pursue all possible legal avenues and announced the establishment of an inquiry commission under his constitutional powers to investigate the matter.

The President further revealed that discussions are under way with the British government to reclaim the lost maritime area and to assert Maldivian claims over the Chagos Islands. He said two letters had been sent to the UK government arguing that the Maldives has a stronger claim to Chagos than Mauritius, and that the issue had also been raised in a telephone call with the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister.

According to Muizzu, evidence shows a long-standing historical connection between the Maldives and the Chagos Islands.

In remarks previously given to Newsweek, Muizzu said the Maldives recognises the strategic importance of Diego Garcia and understands US security concerns. He said that under British administration, the UK and the United States currently operate freely from the base through existing defence arrangements, including with partners such as the Maldives. Under Maldivian sovereignty, he said the government would seek to facilitate the continuation of those arrangements through constitutional processes.

The President’s comments come as the United Kingdom had been preparing to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius under an agreement reached last year. The deal has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has argued that the handover could weaken American security interests in the Indian Ocean, despite assurances from London and Port Louis that US and UK military operations would continue without disruption.

However, in recent developments, Prime Minister Keir Starmer withdrew the bill that would have provided a legal framework for transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. According to UK media outlet The Independent, the legislation faced mounting political backlash, including opposition from the United States, and was delayed ahead of a scheduled House of Lords debate. Critics warned the bill could violate a 1966 UK–US treaty asserting British sovereignty over the archipelago, while ministers accused peers of interfering with national security.

The Chagos Islands were separated from Mauritius by Britain in 1965 and leased to the United States for the operation of a military base on Diego Garcia until at least 2036. In 2019, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion declaring the UK’s continued administration unlawful, and the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly called for Mauritius’ decolonisation. In April 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled on the maritime boundary dispute between the Maldives and Mauritius, awarding a significant portion of the disputed area to the Maldives based on the coastline of the Chagos Islands.