US Senator Cardin (D-Maryland) will lead the Democratic majority in the committee and he isn’t running to keep his job next November…..
The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee pointed Thursday to possible policy shifts affecting Egypt, Turkey, the war in Ukraine and other issues around the globe as he took over the powerful leadership of the panel, replacing indicted Sen. Bob Menendez.
Sen. Ben Cardin, a veteran Maryland Democrat, will have an abbreviated term leading the committee because his term expires in January 2025 and he is not seeking reelection. He described him unexpectedly inheriting the chairmanship, with its power to help shape how the United States approaches the rest of the world, as a “pinch yourself” moment.
Cardin spoke to reporters under the chandelier and vaulted ceiling of the historic 19th-century committee room on his first full day on the job….
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Cardin, before becoming chairman, had condemned the Biden administration’s decision this year to override a human-rights prohibition on $235 million of this year’s military aid to Egypt….
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As chairman, Cardin can place holds on some funding and sales.
Cardin signaled another break, regarding Turkey, a NATO partner that for years has sought to buy advanced warplanes from the U.S. but has been repeatedly blocked, including by Menendez. Menendez had placed a hold barring the sale of F-16s to Turkey, arguing — in part — that he was concerned about Turkey having more air power than Greece, its neighbor and rival.
Cardin made clear he was open to considering moving forward on the sales, if he is satisfied with points, including any additional threat to Greece and on Turkey’s human rights.
Turkey has used the veto power held by each NATO member to block Sweden’s entry into the Western military alliance, even though the U.S. and European allies want Sweden in the bloc to strengthen NATO’s northern flank against Russia….
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Cardin described working to maintain the U.S. flow of money and arms to Ukraine against invading Russian forces as “by far the highest priority” for him….
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Cardin also addressed the Biden administration’s push to broker an agreement for the first broad diplomatic relations between U.S. ally Israel and Gulf heavyweight Saudi Arabia as a “game-changer in the region,” and one he was excited about. Biden officials and other supporters say the deal would help stabilize the Middle East and boost the economies of the Middle East….
image…CNN