President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has stated that if the Maldives secures sovereignty over the southern Chagos islands, his Administration will seek to ensure the continued operation of the US military base on Diego Garcia through a constitutional process in Parliament.

In an interview with Newsweek, President Dr Muizzu addressed concerns raised by US President Donald Trump regarding the 2023 UK–Mauritius agreement on Chagos. President Trump has criticised the deal, warning that it could pose national security risks given the strategic importance of the Diego Garcia base.

The Chagos Archipelago, located approximately 310 miles from Addu City, was separated from Mauritius by the United Kingdom in 1965. The islands were later leased to the United States until 2036 for the establishment and operation of the Diego Garcia facility. Under the UK–Mauritius agreement signed last year, control of the base remains with the UK and the US, while Mauritius receives an annual rent of around USD 137 million.

President Dr Muizzu explained that President Trump’s concerns stem from the need to ensure the safe and uninterrupted operation of the base, which currently serves the defence and security interests of both the United States and the United Kingdom. He stressed that, should sovereignty be granted to the Maldives, his government would work within constitutional frameworks to preserve the existing arrangement.

The President also noted that the Maldives has prior experience in managing the Chagos protected area, underscoring the country’s capacity to administer the territory responsibly.

Calls for the return of Chagos to Mauritius have been longstanding. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that the UK must hand over the islands to Mauritius. This position was later reflected in a judgment by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the maritime boundary dispute between Mauritius and the Maldives, which placed approximately 95,000 square kilometres of ocean under Mauritian jurisdiction.

The current Administration has pledged to appeal the ITLOS ruling and has established a committee to advance the country’s claim over Chagos. The Government maintains that sovereignty over the islands would not only strengthen national interests but also enable the Maldives to negotiate arrangements that safeguard regional security.