Hearings to examine certain pending nominations.

The uh United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee will come to order. Uh good morning everyone. Uh we have a hearing this morning on five uh important uh nominations. We have a great panel in front of us and uh we uh want to welcome them, uh welcome their families. We all know that the families participate as uh much as uh uh everyone else does and it's a sacrifice not only for the nominee but for the family, indeed in times more so for the family, so we appreciate everyone's uh willingness to serve and particularly we appreciate the families who are willing to support uh the people who do serve. So the way we're gonna handle this today uh is uh I will uh make an opening statement and uh then yield to uh Senator uh Shaheen to do likewise uh we will then have a couple of introductions uh we'll then hear statements uh uh from our nominees. We'd ask you each to keep it to about five minutes. We do have a very large record here though, so we have room for about anything you wanna add to the record. So feel free, but uh try to keep it uh to about uh five minutes. Then we'll open it up for a round of questions. And uh so that's ho- how this is gonna go. We welcome the audience. We have a fairly good sized audience today. Uh wanna remind everyone that uh the rules of this committee are very clear. We have zero tolerance. for any interruptions or any attempt to uh communicate with anyone here at the dais or uh with the witnesses and as a result of that anyone who attempts to do so will be subject to the usual things we do here which is uh removal and arrest. So thank you all for coming and uh we uh enjoy uh having people here to watch uh the business of the United States uh uh uh Senate committee. So with that um I uh want to uh talk I'm gonna start with you uh Miss uh, Mister Johnson, um, uh, support for a strong, free and united uh Bosnia remains a policy priority for the United States. If confirmed as ambassador, uh, it is important that you continue to r

We have introductions.

Yeah, I'm gonna let them introduce before uh, sorry.

So.

Um, if confirmed as ambassador, it is important uh that you continue to reinforce a firm US support for the uh Dayton Accords, We're finding ways to foster dialogue across all political factions. Today I hope to hear how you plan to help protect the sovereignty and uh territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina from Russian malign influence, uh encourage the government to strengthen its institutions, and advance the rule of law. Uh, Doctor Neshrat, as Russia and China continue to grow their influence and presence in the Arctic, uh this administration is taking meaningful steps to prioritize the region as a critical component of US national security. If confirmed as ambassador to the Arctic, I trust that with your professional background in the military and the intelligence community you'll continue this effort to advance our security interests and counter our adversaries in the Arctic while deepening cooperation with our partners and NATO allies. Mister Young, as Serbia faces a number of challenges to the rule of law, political freedoms, and countering malign foreign influence, uh, US engagement must focus on helping Serbia address these issues, along with resolving divisions both in the country and with its neighbors. Russia and China also have footholds in Serbia, particularly in the energy and tech sectors. If Belgrade wants to improve relations with the United States, it won't do so by continuing to work with our adversaries. I look forward to hearing your plan to, uh, convince Serbia in the right direction, If confirmed as ambassador. Uh, Miss Patel, the United States has had an enduring relationship with uh Cabo Verde, a country of ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa, uh, for over two hundred years. We operate uh the first US uh consulate in sub-Saharan Africa in Cabo Verde in eighteen eighteen. If confirmed, it would be up to you to continue this long tradition of diplomacy. I look for forward to hearing how you plan to engage Cabo Verde on issues of trade and investment, as well as maritime security and counternarc uh narcotics work. Uh finally, Mister Gillen, President Trump's landmark C five plus one summit last year launched a new era of engagement w- with Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. I participated in that and I believe it was a b- a very positive uh engagement as we move forward uh and hopefully uh uh cultivate that relationship. As Ambassador, You will play an important role in expanding cooperation and encouraging reform that facilitates US investment in Kyrgyzstan's infrastructure, development, energy and critical mineral sector. American involvement in these industries is vital to counter China's influence in the region. It is also crucial that you work uh with the Kyrgyz government to counter Russian sanctions uh evasion its avoidance of international financial controls, and the flow of dual-use goods to the uh Ru- uh Russian defense sector. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how the U. S. can work with the Kursk Republic to address these issues. Thank you all for being here today, and again thank you to you and your families. With that, I will yield to the distinguished ranking members.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and congratulations to each of our nominees today. Welcome to all of your families and supporters who are here today. Um, like the chairman, I want to begin with the Western Balkans, because more than thirty years ago the United States helped end the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. That war included the Srebrenica genocide, where more than eight thousand Bosniak men and boys were murdered under the direction of Ratko Milatic. The Dayton peace agreement has kept the region from returning to that violence, but that peace cannot be taken for granted. Political leaders continue to challenge Bosnia and Herzegovina's territorial integrity, its sovereignty, and its state institutions. Genocide denial and the glorification of convicted war criminals continue to deepen ethnic divisions. And Russia continues to exploit those divisions to de-stabilize the region and block closer ties with Europe. And what is most troubling, I think, is that some of the administration's actions risk contributing to greater instability. And, Mister Chairman,

It will be admitted to the record.

Thank you. In Bosnian Hercegovina, the administration lifted sanctions on Mil Milorad Dodek, despite his continued challenges to the authority of the Bosnian state. And just this week, Dodek said that he, quote, " dreams" of a referendum on Republic of Srpska's succession from Bosnia. And when leaders around the world condemned the glorification of Milatic last week, the State Department was silent. The department has also recently stopped calling Srebrenica a genocide, which is a department departure from long-standing US policy and the position of Congress. The United States helped bring peace to Bosnia. We cannot afford to send mixed signals about Our ambassadors in Belgrade and Sarajevo must be prepared to speak clearly. Srebrenica was a genocide. I've been there, I saw it, I've talked to survivors. I know how many people were murdered in Srebrenica and who was responsible. Bosnia and Herzegovina's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected. And the United States must oppose efforts to destabilize the region and undermine its democratic institutions. Now, that brings me to our nominees. Mister Young, you've been nominated to be ambassador to Serbia. If confirmed, you will arrive at a time of political transition and growing concerns about Serbia's democratic trajectory and its ties with Russia. I hope you will speak to how you will support democratic institutions there, how you will counter Russian influence, and how you will help advance Serbia's path toward Europe. Mister Johnson, you've been nominated to be Ambassador Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I'm pleased to see that during your Marine Corps service you spent some time at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. That means we consider you an honorary New Hampshire citizen. Um, but like Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina is heading into consequential elections amid deep political divisions. I hope you'll speak to how you will defend the Dayton Agreement and Bosnia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and how you will use the mandatory sanctions authorities that Congress enacted in the FY twenty twenty-six National Defense Authorization Act, to hold bad actors accountable. Miss Nishwat, you have been nominated to be ambassador-at-large for the Arctic. Hopefully I'm pronouncing your name correctly.

Pretty close.

Russia is expanding its military presence in the Arctic, while China is seeking a greater role there. If confirmed, I hope you will work with our Arctic allies to protect US security and economic interests in the region. And I'm pleased that our next two nominees are career Foreign Service officers. Mister Gillen, you've been nominated to be ambassador to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan faces growing pressure from Russia and China, as well as serious concerns about democratic backsliding. I hope you will speak to how you will strengthen US ties while pressing for sanctions, compliance and respect for democratic institutions. And finally, Miss Patel, you've been nominated to be ambassador to Cabo Verde. Cabo Verde also has important ties to New Hampshire, so we would consider you an official, an honorary Granite Stater as well. Our National Guard state partnership program is with Cabo Verde. Um, we also have cooperation on aviation training and countering transna- transnational crime with that country. So I look forward to hearing your statement as well and to the opportunity to engage with questions with all of you. Thank you.

Thank you uh Senator Shaheen uh we'll do a couple of introductions first and then we'll turn to each of you to uh give a statement, and when I do that uh I will start uh with Mister Yu Mi- Mister Young on the end and we'll just go that way so that you know where you're gonna be uh in line. Uh, Senator Lee, I understand you have something for us.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and thanks to our nominees for being here today. Uh, I'm gonna be honest, this is one of the hardest introductions I will have ever given. Uh, for the simple reason that the individual I'm I'm introducing is so qualified, it's gonna be hard to get through his qualifications and have you not think that I'm severely exaggerating. It's gonna sound like an exaggeration, it's not. This is a a d a a Mike Young uh is an icon in academia, in the law, in the area of foreign relations in so many different ways. One of my favorite one of my many favorite things about him, in addition to be a family man, the father of four, a grandfather to many. Um uh he he's also tied to my alma mater, uh uh BYU. He's a fellow BYU cougar and he's been nominated to be our next ambassador to Serbia. He's got extensive experience in the law generally, including and especially in international law. He's also got uh uh an unbelievably impressive resume when it comes to academia and diplomacy I can't think of anybody more well qualified for this than Mister Young. Uh he's a lifelong per- public servant. Following his undergraduate studies at BYU and uh law school at at uh uh Harvard Law School, he he tells me that it's accredited, I hadn't heard of it before, but uh he served as a law clerk to the honorable Benjamin Chaple- yeah, uh, Kaplan on the Supreme Judicial Court of the state of Massachusetts, and then as a law clerk, uh, uh, to then Associate Justice, uh, later Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist at the US Supreme Court. He later joined the Reagan administration, um, in the State Department as the Deputy Legal Advisor. During the George H. W. Bush administration, he served as the Deputy Undersecretary for Cultural and Economic Affairs, and then as Ambassador for Trade and environmental affairs. Over the course of his tenure at the State Department, he assisted on diplomatic issues ranging from German reunification and NAFTA to the World Trade Organization, uh really light duty stuff of course. In addition to his more hands-on work in diplomacy, Mr. Young has long served as a thinker, as a professor, as a an a high level administrator. He taught at Columbia Law School and George Washington University, where he also served as dean. He eventually returned to our great state, Utah, and he became the president of the University of Utah, and did outstanding work there. During his tenure at the University of Utah, he expanded the school's ever-growing reputation, uh, a as a center for research and entrepreneurship, making it the nation's, uh, top university for companies generated, uh, from university research. That trend, by the way, now continues, uh, decades after his service in Utah came to an end. Uh, he's also served as the president of the University of Washington and a Texas A and M university. Very few people have left such a deep mark on, uh, as many, uh, top-notch universities as Mr. Young. But on top of all this, uh, he's served, uh, for eight years as a member of the US Commission on International and Religious Freedom. Look, this successful career of his has been nothing, uh, short of extraordinary. And um uh uh I I'm not entirely convinced that he he's not frozen in time or a sophisticated automaton uh from a future era because he doesn't seem to age, and he never grows dull. But in addition to all this, um he he's a delightful human being, uh uh he's gotten to know his family over the years, his friend Stu is a dear friend of mine, uh th- these apples uh and none of them fell far from the tree. So anyway, like I said, and it's gonna sound like an exaggeration, I'm actually underdoing it. I'm confident that uh he's gonna be an extraordinary ambassador and a great advocate for the United States and Serbia on a whole host of issues. So I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Mike Yell.

Thank you, Senator, we appreciate that, and you're right, that is uh on an uh an incredible resume. Um, Senator Scott, you have something for us.

Well, s- like Senator Lee, I have the opportunity to introduce an overachiever. So, Doctor Julian Eswat. as the present's nominee to be ambassador-at-large for Arctic Affairs. So anybody that knows her husband, any good decision he made, Julie made the decision, all of his, all all the bad ones he uh miked it on all by himself. Dr. Neshwat is a great Floridian and a dedicated patriot who has been a career server in our country. She has an impressive background, army intelligence officer, served in combat in Iraq and in Af- Afghanistan, earned a Bronze Star for heroic service. After retiring honorably from the army, she has served across three presidential administrations, Democrat and Republican. She helped establish the office of the Director of National Intelligence, and she has served in leadership roles at the State Department focused on energy and hostage affairs. She was the first Chief Resilience Officer for my great city of Florida. There she led efforts to protect infrastructure and Florida's economy in the face of natural disasters. She served as a Homeland Security Advisor to President Trump during his first term and coordinated critical national security policy across the government. Her work as the Commissioner on the U. S. Arctic Research Commission makes sure the expert we need to lead as Ambassador-at-Large for Arctic Affairs. The Arctic, as we all know, is critical to America's future security and prosperity. As the region continues to reveal more natural resources and open up more shipping routes its strategic and e- economic value are unquestionable. Our enemies clearly see it that way. China and Russia have made huge investments in Arctic exploration and dominance. Even working together on various projects and operations in the region. Just like with sea power, space dominance, cyber security and AI development, this is another arena which we cannot afford to lose. That's why we need Julia in this job. Her extensive national security experience is exactly what America needs to defend American interests in the Arctic, a region where our vital national security interests are at stake, and where our adversaries are already heavily invested. She is way more than qualified for the job. She will fight for American policy in the Arctic. And that she has a vision that will great that will our great country, our inter- will put our great country, our interests and our people first. I fully endorse her fitness for this office and humbly ask that this committee support her with a vote to advance her confirmation. I yield back.

Thank you very much, Senator S- Senator Scott. We appreciate that, um, and appreciate the introductions. So with that, uh, Mister Young, we'll start with you and you have, uh, five minutes thereabouts.

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Uh, ranking member Shahin, uh and distinguished members of this committee, it's an honor uh to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee to be the Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia. Uh but let me also thank my dear friend Senator Lee for that introduction, uh overly kind, uh but I hope uh that I can uh earn the trust uh that is reflected in that introduction. I'm deeply grateful. for the confidence and trust President Trump and Secretary Rubio have placed in me. As Thomas Jefferson, himself a distinguished ambassador, once noted, "The greatest honor a citizen is to serve his country, but to represent her before the world is a sacred trust." If confirmed, I'm pleased to honor that trust and work closely with this committee and with Congress to protect and promote US interests in Serbia, to advance American priorities, and to build a bilateral relationship that contributes Service to our great nation and to the American people has been deeply ingrained in my family for generations and it has been the greatest privilege and honor of our life. Both my parents served in the military in World War Two, my father was in the infantry and served in some of the most difficult battles in Europe including the Battle of the Bulge. My mother served in the Women's Air Service Patrol, uh transported bombers and trained pilots. My son, Stuart, who sits behind me today, has served in the US courts as an as and as an assistant US attorney for almost two decades and now serves as the criminal deputy attorney a attorney general for the great state of Utah. My daughter, Catherine Owen, who also sits behind me, and her husband who is here with us today, both graduates of the US Air Force Academy, have collectively served all over the world for over three decades as officers in the US Air Force. I too have had the privilege of serving in all three branches of our government, and I am truly humbled and honored to be considered today for this particular position of tremendous responsibility and sacred trust and have the privilege and opportunity to serve our great nation yet again. If confirmed, I will leave the team at the U. S. Embassy, Belgrade, to deepen our defense and security cooperation to advance U. S. interest, to expand our trade and investment relationship to increase U. S. prosperity, to foster regional stability and to continue to build a partnership with Serbia that better promotes our interests in this strategically critical region. If confirmed, I will have no higher priority than the safety and security of embassy Belgrade personnel and US citizens in Serbia. I will continue to strengthen our bilateral engagement and deepen our business and economic ties moving Servi Serbia towards energy independence and improved energy infrastructure. I will encourage Serbia to embrace a political and economic future that benefits the United States, not competitors such as Russia and China. There's great potential for US companies in Serbia and deeper economic ties with the US. That's very much in our and Serbia's interest. I will work to ensure a favorable business climate and level playing field in which American businesses can compete and on which they will win. I will prioritize deepening our security and defense cooperation with Serbia, building upon the already strong ties Serbia has formed with the Ohio National Guard as part of the state partnership program over the past twenty years that's a cornerstone of our bilateral security ties with Serbia. I will ensure U S industry is well positioned to meet Burb- Serbia's growing interest in meeting its defense needs with U S equipment and in cooperation with the U S defense industry. If confirmed, I will partner with government of Serbia to counter global threats and support our mutual priorities and interests. I will encourage Serbia to promote security, stability and prosperity throughout the Western Balkans, including through normalization of relations with Kosovo. I will also continue to work with Serbia to use its influence to maintain regional stability, including in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as we seek to uphold the peace brought by the Dayton Peace Corps. Finally, if I'm afforded the great privilege and opportunity to serve as the US Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, I will engage Serbian audiences to strengthen our partnership through public diplomacy strategic communications and people-to-people ties, ahead of the great opportunity that Expo twenty twenty seven in Belgrade presents us. I thank the chair and the ranking member for the opportunity and the privilege to be here today and I look forward to your questions.

Thank you, uh, Mr. Young. Uh, Mr. Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Chairman Riss, Rangan member Shahin, members of committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear for you today as President Trump's nominee to be the US Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am grateful to President Trump, Secretary Rubio, for the confidence in me, and I appreciate the committee's consideration of my nomination. I am deeply honored and privileged to be the President's nominee to serve as United States Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Throughout my career and in the years since my retirement, I've continued to work extensively overseas as a consultant and an advisor, engaging directly with foreign governments, changing military and civilian leadership across diverse countries, complex environments. Those experiences have taught me the importance of strong relationships, candid communications, respect for our partners, and a clear understanding of America's interests and responsibilities abroad. I recognize the present complex and enduring challenges. But I believe my experience, leadership background, and understanding of the region have prepared me to address those challenges with determination and sound judgment. If confirmed, I'll work to protect US citizens' advanced American interests in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I look forward to working with Congress in support of President Trump's American first foreign policy agenda. The United States remains committed to the sovereignty in territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the peace that was brought by the Dayton peace agreement. Dayton ended a devastating conflict in the heart of Europe and laid the foundations for three decades of stability and progress. Today, the United States seeks a stable, secure and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina that is a constructive partner of the United States. If confirmed, I will work to preserve the stability and encourage a responsible leadership across all of Bosnia With elections fast approaching and supporting the political leaders' focus on the responsible governance and deliver tangible results for the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I'll engage broadly and consistently with all communities across the political spectrum to reduce tensions. Discourage escalation, maintain stability, which we will create the conditions for conducive to a better future for all. Thirty years after Dayton, Bosnia and Herzegovina's future should increasingly be shaped by their own leaders and institutions if confirmed encourage pragmatic locally driven solutions to political and economic challenges and support efforts to strengthen the cooperation among Bosnian and Herzegovina's various communities. The United States can play an important role as a partner and a facilitator, helping create conditions for a long-term peace and prosperity while empowering local leaders to take greater responsibility for the country's future. If confirmed, I will prioritize expanding economic and commercial cooperation between the United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Greater trade, investment and energy cooperation can create opportunities for American businesses while supporting economic growth and prosperity in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I'll work to advance the energy sec- security, expand the US exports and promote a business environment that welcomes American investment in critical sectors. The United States committed to promoting stability and prosperity in the region. If confirmed, I'll work with Bosnia and Herzegovina and our partners to limit the opportunities for malign influence from both Russia and China. I'll work with counterparts of the great transnational criminal organizations and other malign actors to exploit political, economic, security vulnerabilities. A stable and prosperous Bosnia and Herzegovina

Thank you, uh, Mr. Johnson. Uh, Ms. Nishwat, the floor is yours. Thank you.

Thank you.

Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen, and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to be to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee to be the US Arctic Ambassador-at-Large. I'm grateful to President Trump and Secretary Rubio for their confidence in me, and I appreciate the committee's consideration of my nomination. I'm joined today by my husband Mike, sister Dina, stepdaughter Anderson, dear friend Michelle, former hostage Ji Ju Wong and his, who was freed from Iran after being held prisoner for three years and his wife, Wah. I'm also joined by fellow veterans who I served with in Iraq and Afghanistan, Lieutenant Colonel retired Ligia Zarudo, as well as Gold Star spouse who lost her husband in Afghanistan, Jane Horton. I am the daughter of first generation Jordanian Christian immigrants. Thank you, sorry, I'm getting a little emotional here. Ben and Hyatt Neshwat. They worked tirelessly and raised five children in rural Florida on faith, education, and service. My widowed mother, a nurse, held our family together. She taught us that America does not owe anyone an easy path, but rewards grit, dedication, and a willingness to serve. That lesson took me from a small Florida town in the United States Army. After September eleventh, I served as a military intelligence officer, deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. I later served across three administrations, beginning with helping to establish the office of the Director of National Intelligence. At the State Department I served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources and later as Deputy and Acting Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs. I later became Florida's first Chief Resilience Officer. I was then appointed the tenth Homeland Security Advisor to the President, where I was responsible for the Arctic, coordinating our national strategy for the region, working closely with the US Coast Guard and Navy to build our Arctic fleet and chairing National Security Council meetings on closing our icebreaker gap. I later served as a Commissioner on the US Arctic Research Commission. So the Arctic has entered a new strategic era. What was once seen as remote is now where homeland defense, alliance security, economic opportunity, and strategic competition converge. Secretary Rubio has said it plainly, The United States is an Arctic nation. We will remain focused on the Arctic and Arctic security must be a regular part of our engagements, including in NATO. Our interests extend far beyond Alaska. The region is central to the defense of the homeland, the security of the North Atlantic, trusted supply chains, energy, minerals and the alliances that have long advanced American interests. It is also the frontier for American innovation. The high north is not only ice and shipping lanes. It is space awareness and missile warning from northern latitudes. It is undersea cables, communications, and the data that moves across them. It is whether the next generation of energy, computing, artificial intelligence is powered and connected by trusted American and allied systems, or by infrastructure built under the influence of our competitors. Cold climates and energy potential can support advanced computing and data centers. Polar orbits and Arctic ground stations already matter for space operations. If the United States does not lead in these areas, others will treat them as openings. A rapidly changing Arctic and longer periods of open water are changing the operating environment faster than our institutions have adapted. Longer periods of open water may create opportunities for maritime activity and Ameri- American energy exports. They also stress the roads, ports, airfields, fuel systems, and networks that enable military operations, investment, commerce, and community resilience. In a region of vast distance, the failure of a single node can have a strategic consequences. These are operational challenges. They affect readiness, mobility, search and rescue, disaster response, and our ability to act in a crisis. Our compet- our competitors understand this. Russia continues to strengthen its military posture and infrastructure behind it. China is not an Arctic nation, yet it is seeking long-term advantage through research, investment, technology and commercial projects with dual use potential. Secretary Rubio has warned that Beijing's pattern is to use commercial cover for facilities that could later serve military purposes. Arctic shipping lanes will matter for exports, critical minerals, trusted digital infrastructure. Space-related access will shape competitiveness for decades. We cannot allow Moscow and Beijing to write the rules of this region by default. America's response must be nimble and effective. Advancing the administration's America first priorities will be the core of our approach. Military strength is inde- indispensable, but it is not enough. Lasting leadership also depends on diplomacy, economic statecraft, strong infrastructure, innovation, and our alliances. No single agency can do this alone. Success requires coordination across government, partnership with Congress, Alaska natives, industry, academia, and our Arctic allies. That is why this role matters. The job is to put American diplomacy to work, advance US interests, engage foreign governments, the Arctic Council, and other international bodies. Line up policies so our efforts pull in the same direction. and push back on influence from our adversaries. It also means a steady eye on the security, military activity, economic deals, resources, cyber, science, and politics, so we are not surprised. If confirmed, I will work every day to strengthen our alliances, advance the interests of the American people, counter those who would exploit the Arctic against us, and help keep the region secure, stable, prosperous, and prepared. Thank you and I welcome your questions.

Thank you, Ms. Nishra. Appreciate it. Uh, Mr. Gillen.

Chairman Rish, Ranking Member Shahin, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee to serve as the next United States Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic. I am deeply honored to be considered for this role. Public service has been the defining commitment of my career. and I do not take lightly the trust the President or Secretary and Secretary Rubio have placed in me, nor the responsibility this committee bears in advising consenting to this nomination. If confirmed, I will bring to this post the same dedication to mission, integrity, accountability that has guided me throughout my time serving the American people. I am grateful for the chance to continue that service in a region I believe is of growing importance to our nation's security and prosperity. Before I go further, I would like to recognize my family, especially my wife, Grace, who is hi- with me here today and who has been all in with me for almost twenty-five years. I remain ever grateful also to my late World War Two generation grandparents. who helped raise me with their profound sense of duty and love of country, and who were very, very proud of me for representing our country as an officer in the United States Foreign Service. My family's support and sacrifice make this work possible, and any success I have had in service to our country reflects their love and partnership as much as my own effort. I could not undertake this responsibility without them. As the Kyrgyz Republic celebrates thirty-five years of independence, the United States has an opportunity to offer a transparent, mutually beneficial partnership that advances the prosperity of both nations. This is not a new commitment, but one this administration has reinforced through sustained high-level engagement including the historic C five plus one summit at the White House last November which marked the platform's tenth anniversary, and brought together uh President Trump, the leaders of the Central Asian countries. If confir- if confirmed, I will work to hold, I will work to build this on this foundation. That means strengthening security cooperation, including on counterterrorism, border security, immigration enforcement, and countering transnational criminal organizations, consistent with the outcomes of the US Kyrgyz Republic annual bilateral consultations. It also means expanding commercial and economic ties including infrastructural cooperation and financial sector partnerships that generate export opportunities and support American jobs. It also means advancing critical minerals and other and energy security cooperation, ensuring secure, diversified supply chains for the United States and our partners in the region. It also means encouraging sovereignty and sanctions compliance. so that the Kyrgyz Republic becomes reliable and transparent partner, as it navigates pressures from neighboring powers. The Kyrgyz Republic is a promising partner at a moment when Central Asia's importance to US foreign policy has never been clearer. If confirmed, I will work tirelessly to protect and advance American interests, strengthen our bilateral relationship, and ensure the United States becomes the partner of choice for the Kyrgyz people. I look forward to answering the committee's questions. Thank you.

Thank you, uh, Mr. Gelin. Uh, Ms. Patel.

Chairman Risch, Ranking Member Shaheen, and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you for the privilege of coming before you today as the President's nominee to serve as United States Ambassador to the Republic of Cabo Verde. I deeply appreciate the confidence and trust President Trump and Secretary Rubio have shown in nominating me. If confirmed, I commit to working closely with Congress to advance our interests in Cabo Verde. I come from humble beginnings, raised to understand the importance of hard work, empathy, integrity, and resilience. Even when times were tough, I always dreamed big. I am grateful for the family and friends here with me today, and those watching from afar, who have shaped who I have become and why public service means so much to me. I also want to acknowledge my nearly two year old son, Adi, who motivates me to be better each day. Cabo Verde is a small nation with an outside story. Since gaining independence in nineteen seventy-five, it has become one of Africa's strongest democracies, reflected time after time through its peaceful transfers of power. Its government acts against officials who engage in corruption, and its laws provide freedom of expression, including for the press. Cabo Verdean leaders have shown remarkable resolve, from interdicting multi-ton narcotics shipments in the mid-Atlantic, to standing firm against pressure from actors seeking to exploit its strategic location. And its people-to-people ties with the United States, dating back to the eighteenth century, has built a bond with America that spans generations. If confirmed, my highest priority will be the safety and security of US citizens in Cabo Verde, including the thousands who travel there for business, tourism, or to spend holidays with loved ones, and our mission team doing incredible work in Praia. Part and parcel of supporting the mission is ensuring our new embassy compound construction is on track for completion in twenty twenty nine. I will also work to promote broad-based, mutually beneficial economic development, encouraging US businesses to seize opportunities in a market with a stable political environment and low corruption. I will advocate for American businesses and look forward to encouraging investment in infrastructure tourism fisheries and digital services. and addressing barriers to US commercial success. Additionally, I will prioritize our security partnership, particularly in maritime domain awareness. Cabo Verde is made up of ten islands and eight islets within a maritime domain that is over a hundred and seventy times larger, than its actual landmass. This presents challenges to combat transnational crime, illegal fishing, and narcotics trafficking. If confirmed, I will work to deepen our security efforts in support of these areas of mutual concern. Finally, I would be remiss not to mention that Cabo Verde made its first ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup this year and became the smallest country ever to make it to the knockout round of the tournament. It was a moment of tremendous national pride for Cabo Verdeans and brought this small nation into the American consciousness. I hope to build on this momentum to bring our two countries even closer together. If confirmed, I will work every day to co- to strengthen this vital partnership. Thank you and I welcome your questions.

Well, thank you and thank you uh to the panel. Uh we're gonna do a round of questions and uh I'm gonna start with myself and then we'll go back and forth between the minority and the majority. Um I'm going to start uh with uh uh uh m- Ms. Nejwat. I'm I'm the senior Republican on the Intelligence Committee as well as being here and we hear a lot, I mean a lot, about the Arctic. uh in the intelligence committee. Um I'm always impressed with the fact and not in a good way uh how little it gets covered in the in the media and uh particularly with the issues that are there. So this gives us an opportunity to highlight uh uh some of those issues so I'm gonna give you a minute if you'd like to talk about some of the challenges and maybe drill down into an example or two as to why the Arctic is important and uh why we should take it uh as such.

Thank you uh, Mister Chairman, for for that for that question and opportunity to really try to explain. I think you're exactly right. Um there's there's a a little bit of a lack of understanding and awareness with the general public when it comes to the strategic importance of the Arctic, and and what this role would it would encompass. Um as as I said earlier in my remarks, you know, the the ice is melting in certain parts of the Arctic. It is opening the navigation seaways. We're seeing increased traffic of Russian and Chinese ships. Uh there's there's quite a bit of vulnerabilities and gaps up in the high north. We rely very heavily um on our our fisheries, on on the salmon industry up in the Al- Alaska region. Uh there's a a lot of um national security, economic uh security concerns when it when it comes to the high north. And being able to explain I I'd say, especially from a public diplomacy standpoint, will be I think quite critical for this role and and this and this uh opportunity to serve, um to really be able to explain that strategic importance um when it comes to also countering the malign influence of China and Russia that are that are in the region um opening opportunities to see what kind of access we have when it comes to critical minerals, uh and energy resources and then finally um building those coalitions and those partnerships with uh our ar Arctic uh nations uh across the board and not just with the Arctic Council but beyond that as well we have a lot of uh Arctic observer states including Japan, Chi uh uh Korea uh and India, for example. So it is a global issue. Uh, when we think about what's happening in the world today, everyone focuses on certain choke points in the Middle East and so forth, where where this the Arctic can be truly a a new frontier, um, if we put the right focus and capabilities behind it. Thank you.

Well, thank you. I think you've got that uh just right. Uh, it it's gonna continue to grow in importance, uh, particularly as uh as the use and the navigation gets uh uh uh gets um more use up there. Uh, Mister Gillen, um, as I noted, I I participated in that meeting at the at the request of the president uh uh with the C five plus one and I have to tell you I was uh uh I was incredibly impressed. I I I see people from all over the world, from the two hundred countries, and uh never saw much of the C five plus one. Uh but when um when the war started uh they they came to see me and wanted to underscore the fact that uh they they didn't have anything to do with this, and they didn't want to participate in that even though uh the Russians had uh strongly uh urged them to do so. But um in any event, uh I was impressed when we had that meeting with them, and I think saying that they have an interest in engaging with us is an understatement. I was I was really surprised at their uh enthusiasm for wanting a relationship with us, uh economically and uh in every other way. So um y- y- your thoughts on that.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, and I'd um for that for that question, but also thank you for your support and participation in the C five plus one summit. Truth be told is throughout the my foreign service career, the most effective moments we had when w- when engaging partners in those who were teetering back and forth between us and maybe other powers throughout the world was when there wa- the the uh legislative branch and the executive branch put up a united front and they s- saw that there was no daylight between constitutional branches and saw where American um uh policy was heading so thank you so much for President Trump's efforts to uh press forward and to reinvigorate and and to maximize uh uh Cuba's Republic's participation in the C five uh format. It is a difficult strategic context for the Kyrgyz Republic. As you know, twenty percent of their economy is dependent on rem remittances from Russia, and upwards of ninety percent, and some estimates out in open sources put it higher, of fuel uh uh their fuel supplies are f from Russia uh the Kyrgyz Republic. And so it's a difficult strategic context in some respects for the Kyrgyz Republic, and and what is essential to enabling them to be a a a trusted, transparent, sovereign, i- our s- strong shows of American commitment to find ways uh to expand commercial ties uh as well as uh uh security cooperation so as if confirmed it will be among my highest priorities uh as Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic to encourage their continued and expanded participation through the C five plus one for the very reasons you've la- uh laid out Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Yeah, I appreciate that. I'm assuming you have had some discussions with uh uh, Ambassador Gaur, Sergio Gaur, who's the Ambassador to India, but also the Special Envoy for the region that includes the C five. Am I correct on that?

Sir, I'm, uh, I have consultations lined up with him, but, uh, I've been engaging with his people, uh, uh, and, uh, look forward to working with him as well as, uh, the Assistant Secretary back at the SA Bureau. Um.

I I appreciate that. You you're gonna find him fully engaged in that, uh, Envoy, uh,

Thank you, Thank you, Mister Chairman, Mister Chairman, and I apologize for missing everyone's opening statements. and I apologize. For missing everyone's opening statements, I had a another briefing and I had a another briefing and armed services committee that I had to go to. Um but hopefully

Did you want him to do it again, or

Well, if you would like that, I'd be happy to listen.

We got it on the record for that.

Ho hopefully I can um get some insights based on the questions to all of you. Um as I mentioned in my opening statement, Mister Young, last week a Serbian plane flew the body of Ratko Milatic from The Hague to Belgrade, and despite the fact that he's was convicted by the international criminal, uh tribunal for former Yugoslavia of genocide in Srebrenica. Um what we saw was some government officials who attended his funeral and he was granted military honors. Uh I think to see honors bestowed on a convicted war criminal like that is outrageous. And I think it's important for the US to be clear on what happened in Srebrenica. So do you consider, as the International Criminal Tribunal does, as the US Congress does, and as the US Holocaust Memorial Museum does, that what took place in Srebrenica was a genocide.

Uh, Senator, thank you so much for your question and your decades-long work in that area lays a tremendous groundwork I think for uh future work in Serbia, so thank you. Uh, yes, what happened in S in Srebrenica as a genocide is a historical and legal fact.

Thank you. And if confirmed Based on your answer, I assume you commit to affirming that um in your new role.

Uh