Andreas Witte

For me the fundamental question here is should contemporary decisions rely on legal doctrines shaped by European empires, whose authority rested on power rather than universal legitimacy? International law recognised sovereignty only when it mirrored European norms, sidelining systems like those of maritime societies such as the Maldives. Territories were labelled “terra nullius” not because they didn’t belong to someone, but because non-European political orders were ignored, raising doubts about why such frameworks should still define legitimacy. This legacy carried into decolonisation, where colonial borders were preserved in the name of stability through uti possidetis juris. In doing so, imperial cartography was prioritised over older regional connections, often reproducing rather than challenging the structures of empire and leaving unresolved why those boundaries should continue to shape political realities today!

India sends 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel to support Sri Lanka thehindu.com/news/national/…

Maldives will not be present at the Indian ocean conference to take place in Mauritius next month. Maldives-Mauritius ties are at all time low after Maldives staked claim to Chagos which Mauritius sees as its territory historically, tho currently is under US-UK Administration.

@Andreas_Witte Strong point. International law can’t claim legitimacy if powerful states ignore rulings while expecting smaller nations to comply. Any reform must respect historical realities, sovereignty & fairness

JUDICIAL REVIEW UPDATE: Next week we’ll learn whether the Chagossians can remain on their islands. This is more than a legal case - it’s about justice, dignity, and the right to return. Misley Mandarin and his team are honouring their ancestors, restoring graves, living sustainably, and proving that community and stewardship go hand in hand. Let this be the moment the law chooses what is right. One brave step for the Chagossians, one long-overdue step toward justice. Here’s hoping for a victory.

Maldives rejects UK-Mauritius deal on Chagos, prepares to lodge case with ICJ see.mv/104099 Details: sun.mv Follow us: Viber: invite.viber.com/?g2=AQBZHi5vyP… Telegram: t.me/sun_mv #sunonline #seemv #news #sunonlineheadlines #latestnews #dhivehinews #maldivesnews

Why should the Maldives abide by court rulings that are not even recognised by the major powers themselves? The new international law that is currently being proclaimed to be reformed, should take account of local, cultural and historical particularities. The former argument that the UK has LEGITIMATE interests in Diego Garcia has also become obsolete. A country 10,000 km away has absolutely no whatever interest in such an island. All the more so if illegal attacks are being supported from the island lately @pritipatel @Nigel_Farage

Die USA stiegen 2018 gegen den Willen der EU (!) einseitig aus dem JCPOA aus und führten Sanktionen wieder ein. Sie dürfen den Schuldigen durchaus benennen. Keines der 57 OIC-Länder und keines der GCC wollen eine offene Konfrontation, der Kollateralschaden (ohne Menschenleben) beträgt schon jetzt mehrere hundert Mrd. USD, also ist der Krieg auch ohne „Völkerrecht“ verkehrt

@CDU_CSU_EP @ManfredWeber @EPPGroup @CSU @EPP @CDU Lieber Herr Weber, beim Angriffskrieg der USA/Israels sind sich 95% der Völkerrechtler und fast alle Diplomaten einig, dass dieser illegal ist. Auch unter dem Gesichtspunkt R2P - weil hier kein Volk „befreit“ wird @ANiebler

❗ TV-Tipp 🖥: Manfred Weber bei Markus Lanz Heute um 2️⃣3️⃣:1️⃣5️⃣ Uhr ist unser Fraktionsvorsitzender @ManfredWeber zu Gast bei „Markus Lanz“ im ZDF. Themen sind u.a. der Iran, Israel und Europa. Einschalten 👉🖥❗️ #DeinEuropa 🇪🇺🇩🇪 #tvtipp #Lanz #MarkusLanz

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Iran: This war is a politically disastrous mistake. A truly avoidable, unnecessary war, if its goal was to stop Iran on its way to the atomic bomb.

@ARD_BaB @DiscoverWhatLie Der BP hat recht, denn der Krieg „befreit“ die iranische Bevölkerung ja nicht von ihrem Regime, sondern macht den Rest an Wohlstand auch noch kaputt.

Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier hat den Krieg der USA und Israels gegen den Iran als „völkerrechtswidrig“ kritisiert: „Unsere Außenpolitik wird nicht überzeugender dadurch, dass wir Völkerrechtsbruch nicht Völkerrechtsbruch nennen.“

Maldives rejects use of Maldivian territory for military purposes: President Dr. Muizzu maldivesvoice.mv/2755

@Andreas_Witte Plus AFRICOM countries' threat perceptions, based on Mauritius' statement of concern today about missiles toward Chagos. #SmallStates #IndianOcean #DiegoGarcia

Named officials differ on Diego Garcia targeting: UK Starmer: "No missiles hit the Chagos Islands... There were two heading in that direction" vs Iran's Esmaeil Baqaei denial: aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/23… Bigger point: conflict/threats are beyond CENTCOM AOR. Indian Ocean uncertainty

@nilanthis So, finally CENTCOM, INDOPACOM and - after CNN brought space into the discussion - SPACECOM will argue over who is formally responsible for deciding whether a missile was launched 🤡

Here’s some more fuel for the wild Diego Garcia missile story: CNN with a follow up on the WSJ report without citing new sources, focusing on space launched technologies. The below mentioned document, an interesting graphics, can be reached by a link. It says: „However, an unclassified assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2025 said that Iran could develop a “militarily-viable” intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”“

Some sources claim that one missile fell into the water around 400–450 km north of Diego Garcia. This would normally have been visible from the Maldives. Furthermore, the country has a right to be informed. The fact that the alleged sources do not provide any further details suggests that its a lie. Conversely, Iran would not deny the launch if its image were not at stake. It is outrageous to strike fear into the hearts of the world when Iran has never threatened to attack Europe or Diego Garcia. There is no military objective here, nor would such an action make any sense.

President Muizzu: No Part of Maldives Will Be Used in Ongoing Conflicts Via @TheStandardmv standard.mv/president-muiz…