Maldives tells the UK it ‘will not recognise’ Chagos Islands deal | EUROtoday

The president of the Maldives has informed the UK he “will not recognise” Sir Keir Starmer’s deal handy over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

The intervention may function an additional blow to the prime minister’s already beleaguered deal, which has been topic to relentless criticism from Donald Trump over the way forward for the joint UK-US navy base on Diego Garcia.

The plan will see the federal government cede sovereignty of the British territory after an advisory International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling in 2019 backed Mauritian claims to sovereignty over the islands.

But the Maldives is now threatening authorized motion because it seeks to claim its personal sovereignty over the islands.

In an announcement to the BBC, President Mohamed Muizzu’s workplace mentioned he had raised considerations with each written objections and in a telephone name with David Lammy, the then international secretary, final 12 months.

“These diplomatic communications articulate the government’s firm position: the decision by the British government to proceed in sole consultation with Mauritius – without due consideration of Maldivian interests – is deeply concerning,” the assertion reportedly mentioned.

“Consequently, the Maldives has formally communicated that it does not recognise the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.

“This position is based on the profound historical and administrative ties between the Maldives and the archipelago, as well as the significant implications any such transfer holds for Maldivian sovereignty.”

However, ministers have beforehand mentioned the islands can be handed over to Mauritius following the 2019 advisory ICJ ruling, a choice the Maldives informed the BBC it might be reviewing.

“The government of the Maldives maintains the firm position that, by virtue of historical and geographical proximity, it holds a prior claim to sovereign rights over the Chagos Archipelago over any other state,” the assertion mentioned.

“Accordingly, if sovereignty is to be vested in any nation, it must rightfully be the Maldives.”

The Independent has contacted President Muizzu’s workplace and the UK’s Foreign Office.

Sir Keir’s deal handy over the territory whereas retaining management of the UK-US navy base on Diego Garcia has plunged into chaos after the US president repeatedly urged him to scrap it.

The UK has agreed to pay Mauritius at the least £120m yearly through the 99-year settlement to lease again the positioning, a complete price in money phrases of £35bn.

Mr Trump has withdrawn his assist for the deal, branding the transfer a “big mistake” due to considerations over the joint navy base.

His withdrawal of assist got here after he appeared to point his assist for the deal final 12 months, earlier than criticising it in January and once more in February.

Iran fired missiles on the joint US-UK base within the Indian Ocean final weekend amid Washington’s ongoing battle on Tehran.

Diego Garcia is round 2,360 miles away from Iran and residential to an airbase able to accommodating long-range US bombers, with round 2,500 American troops based mostly on the island.