President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reaffirmed his administration's determination to pursue the recovery of maritime territory in the southern waters of the Maldives, saying the government remains confident that the dispute can be resolved through international legal channels.

Speaking on PSM, President Dr. Muizzu said the administration is moving forward with the necessary legal and procedural measures to challenge the loss of the area, which he described as a significant setback for Maldivian sovereignty.

The dispute relates to the 2023 decision by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) concerning the maritime boundary between the Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago.

President Dr. Muizzu maintains that the previous administration failed to follow appropriate procedures and effectively conceded an area that had previously been considered part of the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Recovering the waters was one of Muizzu's key campaign commitments, and he has continued to identify the issue as a priority since taking office.

The President said a specialized commission is being established to examine the circumstances surrounding the loss of the territory.

The commission is expected to review how the previous administration handled the ITLOS proceedings and the decisions that led to the disputed maritime boundary.

Meanwhile, officials from the Attorney General's Office have traveled overseas to work alongside international legal experts as the Maldives develops its case for submission to relevant international bodies.

The government previously estimated that the southern maritime dispute had cost the state approximately USD 2.4 million.

Following a detailed assessment by international legal specialists that was presented to the Cabinet, the administration decided to pursue the matter through international channels.

President Dr. Muizzu has also previously said those responsible for decisions that resulted in the loss of sovereign territory should be held accountable, while emphasizing that addressing the maritime dispute remains an important issue for his administration.