Maldives Government Considers Legal Action Against UK's Chagos Agreement
The Maldives has threatened to mount a legal challenge against Britain's controversial agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, creating fresh uncertainty for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's already troubled policy. This potential challenge could collapse the divisive deal under which Britain would transfer £35 billion and UK sovereignty to Mauritius while securing continued use of the strategic military base on Diego Garcia for 99 years.
Diplomatic and Legal Objections Mount
A Maldivian foreign office spokesman confirmed the country is "exploring options" for a legal challenge, asserting that the South Asian nation's territorial claims over the archipelago supersede those of Mauritius. The Maldivian government has declared that Britain's plans are not "adequately grounded in international legal principles" and vowed to pursue "all lawful avenues available" to halt the transfer.
"The Government of the Republic of Maldives remains committed to protecting and advancing the sovereign rights and maritime interests of the Maldivians in accordance with international law," a Maldives foreign ministry spokesman told The Telegraph. "We are exploring our options now. We are doing a comprehensive legal review and consultations with international legal experts and relevant domestic authorities are ongoing."
Historical Claims and Diplomatic Communications
The Maldives government revealed it had written directly to the British government in November 2024 and January 2026 to formally register diplomatic objections to the deal. Azima Shakoor, a former attorney general of the Maldives involved in Chagos advocacy, stated unequivocally: "Chagos is our land and it should be returned to us. The Maldives has better claims to the Chagos Islands and we have a legal right to this land."
Shakoor urged the British government to "respect this right of the Maldivians and completely stop the process of handing over Chagos to Mauritius so as to give time for the Maldives to use the international legal framework to establish its legal rights." It is understood that any legal challenge would be pursued at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), though the Maldives has not yet formally instituted proceedings.
Starmer's Policy Descends into Confusion
This development represents the latest setback for Starmer's Chagos policy, which descended into confusion this week when Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer twice assured Parliament that the government was "pausing" consideration of the agreement, only for the Foreign Office itself to contradict him by confirming "there is no pause." A government spokesman clarified: "We have never set a deadline. Timings will be announced in the usual way. We are continuing discussions with the US and we have been clear we will not proceed without their support."
International Pressure and Domestic Criticism
The renewed uncertainty follows dramatic shifts in position from former US President Donald Trump, who most recently urged Sir Keir to scrap the agreement entirely. Trump warned the hand-over would be a "big mistake" and a "blight on our great ally," prompting British officials to scramble for crisis talks with Washington counterparts.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel condemned the government's handling of the situation: "Labour's Chagos surrender has descended into a farce. The unprofessional conduct of ministers shows they don't even know what's going on with their own legislation. This is a total embarrassment not just for the government but for our country on the international stage."
Chagossian Rights and Resettlement Controversy
Earlier this month, Keir Starmer threatened to arrest members of a resettlement party who arrived in their Chagos homeland to reclaim their territory. Mr Mandarin, who was forcibly removed from the islands by Britain when he was 14 along with his 74-year-old father Michael, faces three years imprisonment and a £3,000 fine if they remain on the archipelago. However, Misley Mandarin, the Chagossian first minister, and three other islanders currently based there will be permitted to stay on Île du Coin until at least March 13.
Nigel Farage raised the case of exiled Chagossians during Prime Minister's Questions, challenging Sir Keir: "This government are full of human rights lawyers, within and without; why do the opinions and human rights of indigenous Chagossians not matter to him at all?" The Prime Minister is now facing mounting pressure to end the uncertainty and abandon the deal completely following President Trump's withdrawal of support and the Maldives' threatened legal challenge.
