President Muizzu Pursues International Legal Action to Reclaim Lost Territorial Waters

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his administration's commitment to recovering lost territorial waters in the Maldives' southern sea, expressing confidence that international legal proceedings will restore the nation's maritime boundaries. Speaking on PSM News’ Nation Chat programme, the President described the loss of these waters as a serious detriment to the state. He attributed the situation to the previous administration's failure to follow proper legal protocols during a 2023 ruling by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), which demarcated the boundary between the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago. The President asserted that the failure to properly contest the demarcation resulted in the loss of a significant portion of the Maldives’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Reclaiming this sovereign territory was a cornerstone of his campaign and remains a top priority for the current government. "The area is Maldives' territory, which we have made very clear," President Muizzu stated. "Hopefully, we will win the court proceedings, and the nation will benefit from the recovery of these waters. Our legal and procedural efforts are moving at a very fast pace." To support this effort, the government is establishing a specialized commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the loss and examine the previous administration's handling of the ITLOS proceedings. Additionally, a team from the Attorney General’s Office recently traveled abroad to collaborate with international legal experts to build a robust case for the state. Initial estimates suggest the maritime dispute has cost the state approximately USD 2.4 million. Following a comprehensive study by legal experts submitted to the Cabinet, the government has decided to officially submit the case to international agencies for review. President Muizzu emphasized that public dissatisfaction over the handling of the maritime boundary was a key driver in the last presidential election. He reiterated his intention to hold accountable all individuals whose actions led to the loss of sovereign territory.