Washington, July 17 (IANS) President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the next US ambassador to Cambodia told lawmakers on Thursday (local time) that dismantling cyber scam centres operating in the Southeast Asian nation would be his top priority, while also pledging to deepen bilateral ties and counter China’s growing influence in the region.Christopher Anderson, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing, said Cambodia had “the opportunity to be a gr…
Latest Senate Foreign Relations Committee News & Updates
Washington, July 17 (IANS) US President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the next US ambassador to Brazil told lawmakers on Thursday (local time) that expanding trade, securing access to critical minerals and strengthening cooperation against transnational crime would be among his top priorities if confirmed, while pledging to support Brazil’s democratic institutions and freedom of expression. Daniel Perez, currently Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, during his confirmation hear…
Washington, June 23 (IANS) A bipartisan bill aimed at tightening US transparency rules for foreign lobbying and influence operations advanced in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, with lawmakers arguing that adversaries such as China, Russia and Iran have exploited loopholes in existing laws to shape American policy.The legislation, known as the Preventing Adversary Influence, Disinformation and Obscured Foreign Financing (PAID OFF) Act, would amend provisions related to the Foreign Agents …
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to reassure lawmakers on Tuesday that U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged, despite concerns raised by President Donald Trump’s recent comments that arms sales to Taipei could be used as a negotiating tool in discussions with China. Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said Washington continues to support preserving the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and dismissed suggestions that the administra…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday said European allies must take greater responsibility for their own defence, arguing that the United States can no longer bear a disproportionate share of security obligations while facing growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East, and elsewhere. Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio defended the Trump administration’s push for higher NATO defence spending and said many European countries w…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday indicated that the Trump administration could consider sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian assets as part of a future nuclear agreement, if Tehran agrees to surrender highly enriched uranium and permanently curb its enrichment activities. The comments offered one of the clearest public signals yet that the administration is prepared to use sanctions relief as leverage in negotiations aimed at preventing Iran from …
Washington, June 2 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Iran must commit to disposing of its highly enriched uranium and accept long-term restrictions on enrichment activities, while also revealing signs of growing divisions inside Iran’s leadership.Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said the US administration was pursuing a phased approach to negotiations following weeks of heightened tensions and military confrontation.The first step, he sa…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday delivered a forceful defence of the Trump administration’s foreign policy, telling lawmakers that every diplomatic decision must be judged by whether it advances the interests of the United States.Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said the administration had reoriented US foreign policy around national security, economic strength and sovereignty after what he described as “years of misplaced prior…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Iran has agreed to discuss parts of its nuclear programme that it had previously refused to negotiate, raising the prospect of new talks after recent U.S. military action against Tehran. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said Iran’s military capabilities had been significantly weakened and that Tehran was now willing to engage on issues it had long kept off the table.”There is the prospe…
Washington, June 2 (IANS) Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Tuesday that the United States cannot afford to lose its technological edge to China, telling lawmakers that maintaining American leadership in artificial intelligence has become a critical national security priority. Appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said the United States and China would remain strategic competitors for years, if not decades, even as both countries continue to engage diplomatically.”Ch…