British opposition figure Nigel Farage stated that the Maldives has historical connections to the Chagos Islands and contended that Mauritius lacks a valid claim to the area.

Farage, the head of the Reform UK Party, expressed his comments following a recent trip to the Maldives, where he sought to visit the Chagos Islands. He stated that the UK government forbade him from taking the trip.

Regarding the sovereignty issue, Farage mentioned that the Maldives has enduring connections to the Chagos Islands through commerce, culture, and archaeology, asserting that the islands were historically linked to the Maldivian language prior to their renaming by the French. He contended that Mauritius lacks “historical or cultural justification” for claiming the islands.

Farage noted that the Maldives is "concerned" about the UK's current talks to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The suggested treaty would permit Mauritius to govern the archipelago while the United Kingdom and United States retain their shared military base on Diego Garcia with a long-term lease.

He additionally asserted that the Maldives is getting ready to file a counter-claim with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that if any nation possesses a legitimate claim to the islands, it is the Maldives.

Farage cautioned that the shift in sovereignty might destabilize the area, suggesting it could heighten geopolitical conflicts between India and China. He called on the UK government to halt the process and rethink its strategy.

Farage went to the Maldives to support a team providing aid to Chagossians trying to relocate to one of the outer islands. He claimed that UK officials pressured Maldivian authorities to prevent him from boarding the ship, a statement the UK Foreign Office denied, asserting he was denied access to a sensitive military zone without appropriate clearance.