The recent decision by the British government to cede control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius has sparked concerns among senior U.S. Republicans.

While the deal secures the U.S.-U.K. military base at Diego Garcia for 99 years, Republicans fear the handover could strengthen Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region.

US Republicans Raise Security Concerns

Key Republican figures, including Idaho Senator James Risch and Texas Representative Michael McCaul, expressed strong opposition to the move.

They argue that ceding control of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, which maintains ties with Beijing and has a free trade agreement with China, could have negative long-term consequences for U.S. and U.K. security.

Risch, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that the deal “gives in to Chinese lawfare” and compromises the strategic interests of both the U.S. and the U.K.

He highlighted the need for a careful, long-term approach to prevent undermining the ongoing competition with China.

McCaul, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, underscored the importance of Diego Garcia, saying the military base is “essential” to countering China’s influence and coordinating Indo-Pacific security efforts.

He urged the U.S. administration to ensure that the deal does not weaken U.S. security interests in the region.

The British Government Defends the Agreement

Despite U.S. concerns, the U.K. government insists that its allies, including the U.S., support the agreement.

A spokesperson for the British government said that the deal guarantees the future of the Diego Garcia base and protects it from “foreign malign influence” with Mauritian backing.

President Joe Biden also supported the deal, calling it a “peaceful and mutually beneficial outcome” achieved through diplomacy.

Critics Voice Further Concerns

U.S. conservative thinkers have also criticized the agreement. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, likened the move to the 1997 handover of Hong Kong to China, warning of potential regrets.

He referred to it as a “foreign policy fumble” and noted that the move could unsettle other U.K. territories, such as the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar.

However, some advocates see the deal as long overdue. David Vine, a coordinator of Chagossian advocacy, welcomed the agreement but criticized the exclusion of Diego Garcia from the Chagossians’ right to return, noting their forced expulsion decades ago.

In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the detachment of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius was not done with the consent of its people, further pushing for the U.K. to end its administration of the islands swiftly.