Foreign Affairs

The news today of an encounter between U.S. and Russian forces in Syria underscore the dangers of this Administration’s lack of a strategy to protect our troops, support our allies, and promote an end to the conflict there that secures our interests. I remain deeply concerned that Vladimir Putin intends to use pressure on our military - as we saw with the reports several weeks ago of Russian bounties paid to the Taliban in Afghanistan for U.S. service members killed there - and influence our election and the direction of America’s global national security strategy.

In recent years, Alexey Navalny has been jailed, harassed, poisoned, and dyed green - all in an effort to silence him and the millions of Russians who, alongside him, yearn for freedom and democracy in their country and an end to Vladimir Putin's autocratic kleptocracy.  I have no doubt that, if it turns out he was poisoned again today, the Russian people will know exactly who is responsible. 

Today’s announcement that Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will move forward to establish diplomatic relations is a positive and important step. It is critical that Israel’s right to exist is recognized by all and that Arab countries join in accepting Israel’s permanence.

he Trump Administration’s travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries continues to be not only a mark of shame on our country but also a threat to our national security.  A potent tool for those who would radicalize and recruit terrorists, the ban was implemented without regard to objections from our national security experts or those who defend the principles of freedom of religion and non-discrimination. 

Because of its unfree and rigged process, we may never know the real results of today’s referendum in Russia. But the outcome will surely be many more years of dictatorial rule by Vladimir Putin, an autocrat with an iron grip over his people and whose record of aggression and human rights violations rivals that of the czars of old. This is the man praised and admired by President Trump.

Thirty-one years ago, the Chinese government in Beijing brutally and violently disbursed peaceful protestors in Tiananmen Square.

House Democrats have consistently stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Hong Kong, who so desperately want to preserve the freedom and democracy they have enjoyed for generations, now threatened by the government in Beijing.  It is no surprise that President Xi and other Chinese leaders feel that they have an opportunity to try to stamp out democracy and freedom of expression in Hong Kong; President Trump has made no secret of his support for President Xi, even calling him a ‘friend of mine’ and an ‘incredible guy.