Mauritius has cut diplomatic relations with the Maldives.

This means there will be no formal relations between the two countries. Mauritius is the first country in recent history to sever ties with the Maldives.

Mauritius decided to sever ties with the Maldives because the Muizzu administration does not recognize its sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and rejects the UK's agreement to hand over Chagos to Mauritius.

The decision was made at a cabinet meeting chaired by President Dharambeer Gokhool.

An internal circular sent to the country's authorities, seen by Adhadhu, said the Maldives had been informed of the decision.

On February 5, President Mohamed Muizzu announced that he would not accept the decision by the international courts to demarcate the border between the two countries.

“Referring to the archipelagic base points in the Maritime Areas Act, I conclude that the SEZ is the area already defined in the law, including the demarcated marine area and declare it in the presence of you, Honorable Members of Parliament,” Muizzu said in his third presidential address at the opening session of the People's Majlis.

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) later announced that it had taken control of the area.

Chagos is a British military base. Britain agreed last year to hand over sovereignty to Mauritius. Mauritius claims sovereignty over Chagos because about 2,000 Chagossians were sent to Mauritius to build the military base.

In 2021, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Seas (ITLOS) ruled that the UK does not have sovereignty over the Chagos. At the time, ITLOS also demarcated the Maldives' border to the south.

Some historical documents mention that former Maldivian Sultans included the Chagos Islands under the Maldives.

The UK agreed to give Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos and to lease the land for the military base for USD 100 million a year. US President Donald Trump recently criticised the deal.