The British authorities insisted its U.S. allies had been foursquare behind the transfer, after a report claimed Washington raised issues concerning the determination with the U.Okay.
However high Republican lawmakers echoed criticism from Conservatives in Britain that conceding to the long-standing Mauritian marketing campaign for management of the islands might be a mistake.
Idaho Senator James Risch, a senior member of the Senate Overseas Relations Committee and a Donald Trump supporter, mentioned the transfer “offers in to Chinese language lawfare and yields to strain from unaccountable worldwide establishments just like the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice on the expense of U.S. and U.Okay. strategic and navy pursuits.”
He added: “The U.S. and our allies should take a long run strategy on the subject of making selections that have an effect on our strategic competitors with China, or we are going to all lose.”
Texas Consultant Michael McCaul, who chairs the Home Overseas Affairs Committee, mentioned the Diego Garcia base was “important” to countering China and co-ordinating companions within the Indo-Pacific, including: “The administration should be sure that U.S. safety pursuits within the Indo-Pacific are protected by this settlement.”
‘Overseas 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. “After all this deal advantages China,” mentioned Luke Coffey, a senior fellow on the Hudson Institute assume tank and a former adviser to British Protection Secretary Liam Fox.