The British authorities insisted its U.S. allies had been foursquare behind the transfer, after a report claimed Washington raised considerations concerning the resolution with the U.Okay.
But high Republican lawmakers echoed criticism from Conservatives in Britain that conceding to the long-standing Mauritian marketing campaign for management of the islands may very well be a mistake.
Idaho Senator James Risch, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a Donald Trump supporter, mentioned the transfer “provides in to Chinese lawfare and yields to stress from unaccountable worldwide establishments just like the International Court of Justice on the expense of U.S. and U.Okay. strategic and army pursuits.”
He added: “The U.S. and our allies should take a long run strategy in terms of making selections that have an effect on our strategic competitors with China, or we are going to all lose.”
Texas Representative Michael McCaul, who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, mentioned the Diego Garcia base was “important” to countering China and co-ordinating companions within the Indo-Pacific, including: “The administration should make sure that U.S. safety pursuits within the Indo-Pacific are protected by this settlement.”
‘Foreign coverage fumble’
Conservative thinkers within the U.S. additionally weighed in in opposition to the transfer by the brand new Labour authorities within the U.Okay. “Of course this deal advantages China,” mentioned Luke Coffey, a senior fellow on the Hudson Institute suppose tank and a former adviser to British Defense Secretary Liam Fox.