Discussed Energy Security, National Defense
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke with President Trump’s ambassador nominees to the United Kingdom, Turkey and Italy, and discussed the importance of improving trade relations globally, how we can partner with allies to improve America’s energy security, and the importance of defense cooperation.
Watch the full exchange HERE.
Daines and nominee for Ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, discussed how to advance U.S.-Turkey trade relations:
Daines: One of the primary responsibilities of an ambassador is working to develop a positive trade and economic relationship between the United States and their assigned post. If confirmed, how do you plan to work with Turkey to advance U.S. trade relations?
Barrack: Turkey is a great opportunity. It was the pulse beat and the heartbeat of the Spice Road and the Silk Road. It was always the center of interconnection of cultures, of religions, of races, and trade that was going from east to west and vice versa. My belief is that it can once again be a new Spice Road in energy, transport, manufacturing and defense…I believe that we can reach the stated goal of President Trump and President Erdogan to try and get to $100 billion in shared trade on a bilateral basis a year.
Daines asked nominee for Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta how partnership with Italy can improve America’s energy security:
Daines: Mr. Fertitta, Mr. Barrack brought up energy, and I want to talk with that a little bit as it relates to Italy, but I will say I was very happy to see Prime Minister Meloni’s recent comments dismissing the idea that Italy has to choose between President Trump and Europe. I completely agree that Italy can cultivate a better relationship with the United States and with Europe at the same time, and I think that will be an important role that you’ll have as our Ambassador, if confirmed. But regarding energy, Italy has several floating storage and regasification units. Maybe it’s only fitting or divine providence that a guy from Houston, arguably one of the energy capitals of the world, will be our next ambassador to Italy. How could Italy partner with the United States to ensure energy security?
Fertitta: From an energy standpoint, we would love for Italy to do a lot more business with our American companies and not buy so much energy from Libya and other countries. And this is something that, you know, I’ve thought about tremendously and in talking to Houston oil companies. I look forward to bringing the two together, knowing so many of the CEOs that are in the Houston, area to meet with the Italian government and their energy department to see what we can do to create more business and take that trade gap from $45 billion to make it a lot less.
Daines: Thanks for that answer. You know we’ve seen what’s happening in Europe, certainly since the Ukraine invasion, how important energy security is, and ties right to national security, and the world would be a lot safer if that relationship in the United States and these other countries is stronger, as it relates to energy and trade.
Daines asked nominee for Ambassador to the U.K. Warren Stephens about the importance of U.K. foreign military sales:
Daines: The U .K. has long been one of the U .S. closest defense and intelligence partners. Their partnership truly is a force multiplier for capabilities around the world. I’m about at time here, so I’ll make my question short. Could you please speak to the importance of the United States fulfilling its commitments to the UK foreign military sales?
Stephens: I would urge the United States to fulfill every commitment it has to provide the UK with the weapons and the systems that it needs.
###
Contact: Matt Lloyd, Rachel Dumke