Nigel Farage Says Maldives to Submit Chagos Claim to ICJ

Nigel Farage told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the Maldives would soon submit a claim to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the Chagos Islands, asserting that if any country has a legitimate claim to the archipelago, it is the Maldives.

Farage said the Maldives has the “most claim, historically in trade and archaeology” to the Chagos Islands and argued that there is “no basis” for Mauritius to assert sovereignty.

He added that the Maldives is concerned that a proposed transfer of sovereignty from the United Kingdom to Mauritius could destabilise the region and trigger geopolitical tensions between India and China.

The Leader of Reform Party, Rt Hon @Nigel_Farage states categorically in the House of Commons that the Maldives has a better connection to Chagos than Mauritius. Maldives President @MMuizzu has written about this to the UK Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/yGDOctlH3Y— Farah Faizal 🎈 (@DrFarahFaizal) February 25, 2026

Farage’s remarks come amid longstanding interest expressed by the current government over sovereignty issues concerning the archipelago. However, the United Kingdom has maintained that international legal processes recognise Mauritius as the rightful sovereign.

The remarks echo statements made by Mohamed Muizzu concerning the agreement signed in May last year to transfer the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Under the deal, the United Kingdom would lease Diego Garcia — which hosts a United States military base — for 99 years.

US President Donald Trump previously criticised the decision to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, arguing that the move could weaken American security interests in the Indian Ocean. London and Port Louis have maintained that US and UK military operations would continue without interruption.

During the previous administration, former president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih sent a letter to the Mauritian government relinquishing the Maldives’ claim to the Chagos Islands. In his presidential address opening the 20th Parliament, Muizzu said international experts had concluded that the letter adversely affected the security of the Maldives’ strategic territory. He stated that his government had therefore decided to withdraw the letter “in the interest of the state and its citizens”. 

In the same address, Muizzu said the government is holding discussions with the British government to reclaim the lost maritime area and assert Maldivian claims over the Chagos Islands. He confirmed that officials had sent two letters to the UK government arguing that the Maldives holds a stronger claim than Mauritius, and that he had also raised the issue in a telephone call with the UK’s Deputy Prime Minister.

Farage travelled to the Maldives over the weekend in an attempt to visit the Chagos Islands while carrying food supplies. During his visit, he posted a video on Facebook alleging that the UK government was pressuring Maldivian authorities to prevent him from travelling to the territory.

In the video, Farage claimed that the administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer had applied pressure on the Maldivian government and President Muizzu to restrict his efforts. Speaking to The Telegraph, Farage said a senior Maldivian government official informed him of the alleged concerns.

He also questioned why the UK government was pursuing the transfer of sovereignty, alleging that India had secured a significant economic agreement with Mauritius in anticipation of the handover. Farage further claimed that China had significant involvement in Mauritius and was planning to develop a smart city there.