The Vanuatu government has cleared Andrew Tate’s path to continued citizenship, announcing that a review found no issues with how he obtained his passport. This decision maintains his status as a Vanuatu national, a point of contention for many given his high-profile legal troubles in Romania and the UK. The government’s assessment centered on the compliance of the initial application.
Government spokesperson Kiery Manassah confirmed that the citizenship office examined Tate’s documents and found that he was cleared by Interpol and the UK when his citizenship was granted. This initial compliance with regulations is the basis for the current decision, indicating that all necessary checks were performed at the time of the application.
Manassah did convey the government’s regret that they were not fully informed about the allegations against Tate during his application, admitting that this knowledge would have resulted in a different outcome. He acknowledged, “If the government had been aware of this at the start… we should have not allowed him in the first place.” However, he emphasized the legal restrictions on retroactive revocation.
The government is now focused on improving the integrity of its citizenship program, which has faced significant criticism. New regulations are being introduced to enhance due diligence, with the aim of preventing similar incidents and bolstering the program’s international standing and reputation for thorough vetting.