The Republic of Maldives or the Maldives Islands is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Although governed as an independent Islamic sultanate from 1153 to 1968, the Maldives was a British protectorate from 1887 until 25 July 1965. On 26 July 1965, an agreement was signed, and the Islands become independent. Two years later (11 November 1968) the republic is declared.