British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declared that the United Kingdom will not relinquish control of its military base on Foalhavahi under any circumstances, rebuffing calls from opposition leaders and firmly rejecting attempts by the Maldives to open tripartite sovereignty negotiations.
Addressing MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons, Burnham confirmed that maintaining long-term operational control over the island—internationally known as Diego Garcia—remains the central pillar of Britain’s defense policy in the Indian Ocean.
advertisement
advertisement
The Prime Minister’s statement followed intense criticism from Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch, who attacked the government’s wider defense and foreign policy strategy. Badenoch accused ministers of demonstrating weakness on the world stage, claiming that a treaty to hand over surrounding islands while leasing back the base on Foalhavahi would cost British taxpayers £35 billion and embolden territorial claims elsewhere, including over the Falkland Islands.
“We are not going to surrender our base at Diego Garcia,” Burnham told the House. “We are in discussions with the US about that,” adding that the UK would continue to work alongside Washington to secure the installation and maintain regional stability.
The Prime Minister’s firm stance directly addresses recent diplomatic pressure from the Maldives. The President of the Maldives, Dr Mohamed Muizzu, recently sent a formal letter to Burnham requesting direct talks regarding the future of Chagos Islands, asserting that the archipelago holds deep historical, geographical, and maritime significance for the Maldivian nation. President Muizzu expressed disappointment over the lack of prior consultation with Malé before initial agreements were struck.
However, the Foreign Office firmly ruled out including the Maldives in formal negotiations over the legal status of Chagos Islands, confirming that London continues to view territorial rights in the area as a strictly bilateral matter.
Under a framework initially signed between Britain and Mauritius during the administration of former British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the UK agreed to recognise Mauritian sovereignty over the outer islands of the Chagos chain while securing a 99-year lease for Foalhavahi. This agreement ensures that the joint UK–US military installation remains fully operational, with British officials maintaining that long-term control over the island forms the core condition of the overall treaty.
While the UK Foreign Office continues routine diplomatic engagement with Malé across various regional and security sectors, British officials maintain that formal sovereignty discussions will proceed strictly between London and Port Louis.
