Maldive
In his 2026 Presidential Address, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced decisive legal action to recover a portion of the Maldives' southern Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) lost following a ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). He also moved to reverse a key 2022 decision by the previous administration concerning the Chagos Islands, including Foalhavahi.
The loss of maritime territory resulted from a case filed by Mauritius during the previous government's tenure, claiming an overlap between the Maldivian EEZ and the Chagos Archipelago. President Muizzu criticized the former administration's handling of the proceedings, which led to the surrender of a substantial portion of the Maldives' southern maritime zone.
President Muizzu instructed the Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive legal review and initiate steps to reclaim the surrendered maritime area. A coordination committee, supported by international legal experts, was formed and submitted its findings in January 2024. The Cabinet approved formal legal action, which is now being implemented.
A key development is the decision to reverse the position taken by the previous administration in a 2022 letter to the Prime Minister of Mauritius. International legal experts advised that the letter weakened the Maldives' legal position in safeguarding its sovereign maritime rights. The current administration has taken steps to revert that decision as part of the broader effort to reclaim the lost EEZ.
President Muizzu reaffirmed that Foalhavahi, located within the Chagos Islands, has longstanding historical, legal, and cultural ties to the Maldives. Official documents from the Maldivian Monarchy included Foalhavahi within Maldivian sovereign boundaries, and the waters surrounding the atolls have been integral to Maldivian fishing and maritime activity for generations.
The Maldives has formally objected to the United Kingdom's decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. These objections were communicated in writing in November 2024 and January 2026. President Muizzu also raised the matter directly with UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, expressing the Maldives' desire for consultations on the issue.
Based on expert legal advice, the Maldives will formally appeal the case previously submitted to ITLOS. President Muizzu declared that the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone remains as defined under the Maritime Zones of Maldives Act, including the maritime area that was previously surrendered. This move signals a firm reassertion of sovereignty by the Muizzu administration, positioning the Maldives to pursue international legal remedies to restore its maritime rights and protect long-term national interests.
