President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reiterated his government's commitment to reclaim maritime territory in the southern waters of the Maldives, expressing confidence that the issue can be settled via international legal avenues.

In statements made to PSM, President Dr. Muizzu indicated that the government is advancing with essential legal and procedural actions to contest the area's loss, which he characterized as a major blow to Maldivian sovereignty.

The disagreement pertains to the 2023 ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) regarding the maritime border between the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago.

President Dr. Muizzu asserts that the former administration did not adhere to proper protocols and effectively surrendered a region that was once regarded as part of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Restoring the waters was a central promise of Muizzu's campaign, and he has emphasized the matter as a priority since assuming office.

The President announced that a dedicated commission is being formed to investigate the factors related to the territory's loss.

The commission is anticipated to evaluate the actions of the previous administration regarding the ITLOS proceedings and the choices that resulted in the contested maritime boundary.

In the meantime, representatives from the Attorney General's Office have gone abroad to collaborate with global legal specialists as the Maldives prepares its case for presentation to appropriate international organizations.

The government had earlier estimated that the southern maritime conflict had incurred costs of around USD 2.4 million to the state.

After an in-depth evaluation by global legal experts submitted to the Cabinet, the government chose to address the issue via international avenues.