The Mauritius cabinet decided on Friday to immediately suspend all diplomatic relations with the Maldives due to the contested Chagos archipelago.

The Prime Minister’s Office released cabinet highlights after Friday’s meeting stating that the cabinet acknowledged the Maldivian government’s recent position, which no longer acknowledges Mauritius' sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago and opposes the UK-Mauritius agreement in which the UK agreed to transfer the Chagos archipelago to Mauritius.

Consequently, the document stated that the cabinet had resolved to promptly halt all diplomatic relations with the Maldives.

The document states that the cabinet addressed worries about the postponed legislative process related to the Diego Garcia Military Base and British-Indian Ocean Territory Bill in the UK, which is expected to be enacted once an agreement between the UK and the US is achieved. The government of Mauritius is said to be closely monitoring the situation.

As Mauritius maintains its position on the matter, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu stated during his presidential speech at the first parliamentary session of the year earlier this month that Maldivians have historically seen the Chagos archipelago as an integral part of the nation's territory, rooted in ancestral beliefs.

He asserted that historical records show Chagos was formerly part of the Maldives’ territorial limits in official documents. The President emphasized that Maldivian fishermen have historically fished — and still fish — in the waters surrounding Chagos, contending that these enduring relationships create a definite sovereign link between the Maldives and the island group.

The President stated that the Maldivian government officially submitted written protests to the United Kingdom on November 8, 2024, and January 18, 2026, against its decision to transfer ownership of Chagos to Mauritius. He also disclosed that on December 15 of the previous year, he brought the issue directly to British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, conveying the Maldives' desire to start formal talks with the UK government.

Although the Maldives continues to assert its position, the United Kingdom insists that the sovereignty issue is solely a bilateral concern between London and Mauritius.

At the same time, Nigel Farage, a member of the UK House of Commons and leader of the opposition Reform UK party, contended that historical ties to Chagos are with the Maldives and that Mauritius has no valid claim to the islands. He proposed that the Maldives might take a case to the International Court of Justice to affirm its sovereignty and urged the British government to promptly halt plans to transfer the territory.

Last weekend, Farage went to the Maldives, claiming that he aimed to go to Chagos for a humanitarian purpose. In a video posted on social media following his visit, he claimed that the UK had barred him from entering the area. Nonetheless, The Guardian's reports, referencing UK government sources, suggested that British officials only became aware of Farage’s presence in the Maldives following the video's release. The UK government additionally mentioned that he did not seek permission to access Chagos, which continues to be a restricted zone necessitating prior approval.