The government of Mauritius has announced that it is suspending diplomatic relations with the Maldives with immediate effect due to the ongoing dispute over the Chagos archipelago. The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting held today and was confirmed in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to the statement, the move comes after the Maldives refused to recognise Mauritius’ sovereign claim over the Chagos Islands and objected to the draft agreement currently being negotiated between Mauritius and the United Kingdom regarding the future of the territory.

During the cabinet meeting, Mauritius discussed the Maldives’ position on the Chagos issue in detail. The Maldivian government has clearly stated that it does not support transferring sovereign control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. It has also expressed objections to the draft agreement being discussed between Mauritius and the UK. As a result of these developments, Mauritius decided to suspend diplomatic ties with the Maldives. The suspension takes effect immediately. So far, the government of the Maldives has not issued any official response or comment regarding Mauritius’ decision.

The situation follows recent statements made by Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He declared that the Maldives opposes the transfer of sovereign claim over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. President Muizzu also stated that his government has formally requested a meeting with the United Kingdom to discuss the matter further.

In his presidential address delivered during the opening of parliament this year, he revealed that the Maldivian government had sent letters to the UK government on November 8, 2024 and January 18, 2026. In those letters, the Maldives clearly stated its objection to Chagos being handed over to Mauritius.

This announcement marked the first time this year that the Maldivian government publicly disclosed its official correspondence with the UK regarding the Chagos issue. President Muizzu also shared that during an online call with the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Lammy, he communicated the Maldives’ concerns about the issue. During that call, he expressed his government’s reservations and showed interest in holding formal discussions with the UK government to address the matter.

In addition, President Muizzu formally withdrew a letter that had previously been sent to the Prime Minister of Mauritius by former Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. He further announced that the maritime area that had been relinquished under the earlier position would now be included within the Maldives’ Special Economic Zone, as allowed under the law.

The Chagos archipelago dispute has a long legal and diplomatic background. In 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued an advisory opinion stating that the United Kingdom’s continued control over the Chagos Islands was against international law and that sovereignty over the territory should be returned to Mauritius. Although this opinion was non-binding, meaning it was not legally enforceable, it placed significant international pressure on the UK.

Initially, the United Kingdom did not act on the advisory opinion. However, following a vote in the United Nations General Assembly in favour of implementing the ICJ’s recommendation, the UK later shifted its stance.

After these developments, Mauritius approached the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to seek demarcation of the overlapping maritime territory claimed by both Mauritius and the Maldives. The disputed area covered approximately 95,000 square kilometers. ITLOS examined the matter and eventually allocated the disputed territory between the two countries. Under its decision, both Mauritius and the Maldives were granted a 200-mile continental shelf. The Maldives received 47,232 square kilometres of maritime territory, while Mauritius was allocated 45,331 square kilometres.

Despite this allocation, tensions have continued, particularly over the broader question of sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and the draft agreement between Mauritius and the United Kingdom. Mauritius maintains that it has a rightful sovereign claim over the archipelago, supported by the 2019 ICJ advisory opinion and subsequent UN developments. On the other hand, the Maldives has raised concerns and objections regarding the proposed transfer of sovereignty and has sought direct discussions with the UK government on the issue.

The latest decision by Mauritius to suspend diplomatic relations marks a significant escalation in the dispute between the two island nations. With no immediate response from the Maldives, it remains unclear how the situation will develop or whether diplomatic engagement will resume in the near future. The disagreement over the Chagos archipelago now not only involves historical legal decisions and international rulings but has also directly affected bilateral relations between Mauritius and the Maldives.