President Mohamed Muizzu has said that the Maldives is "legally better placed than Mauritius to assert sovereignty" over the Chagos islands.

Muizzu previously sent a letter to the UK government on the matter. But the letter was classified and the it was not taken into consideration when Chagos was handed over to Mauritius in May 2025.

In an interview with The Express, Muizzu said the UK government was well aware of the Maldives' claims and concerns.

"The Maldives has historical connections to the Chagos Islands – known to us as Foalhavahi - which lie south of Maldivian waters. These connections are based on documental evidence, and we believe gives the Maldives a greater claim than any other country," he was quoted as saying.

His interview came after US President Donald Trump spoke out against handing over Chagos to Mauritius and described it as a stupid decision.

However, the UK government spokesperson has assured that they would comply with the agreement with Mauritius.