The Government of Maldives has welcomed the decision by the Government of the United Kingdom to pause the handover of Foalhavahi to Mauritius, describing it as an opportunity to reopen discussions on the matter.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Maldives has a legitimate interest in the future status and governance of Foalhavahi, and emphasised the importance of renewed negotiations involving the country.

The Government reiterated its call for a fair and equitable resolution that respects the rights of Maldives, supports regional stability, aligns with international law, and ensures the long-term sustainability of the Indian Ocean.

The pause follows developments in the United Kingdom, where the UK government was unable to advance legislation required to formalise the transfer within the current parliamentary session, which is set to conclude in the coming weeks. Officials acknowledged that the timeline had run out after the United States withdrew its support for the agreement.

Maldives has formally notified the United Kingdom that it does not accept the agreement reached with Mauritius over Foalhavahi. The Government described the arrangement as concerning and stated that it had not been consulted despite having direct interests in the matter.

The Government has also indicated that it may pursue international legal avenues to assert its sovereignty claim over Foalhavahi.