Following his election as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) released a statement on Tuesday highlighting global enemies of free societies.
“Today, America faces threats from nearly every corner of the world,” Risch stated. “China presents the most significant long-term risk to the United States that I have witnessed.”
The Chinese government, he continued, “steals American intellectual property, and exploits our capitalist markets for their own gain, all while aggressively undermining American national security and expanding their military to rival our own.”
Risch also discussed the dangers posed by Iran.
“Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, fights a multi-front war against Iran and our common adversaries following a brutal and unprovoked attack,” he said. “The Biden Administration failed to properly support Israel in its self defense and efforts to eradicate Hamas, which has only prolonged the terrible situation in Israel and Gaza.”
The new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations also called out Russian President Vladimir Putin, who “continues his violent assault on Ukraine. Putin has escalated this war over and over again—most recently by importing more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers to fight for Russia.”
Describing the interconnected nature of the Chinese, Russian, and Iranian threats, Risch said that “these are not isolated threats—hostile foreign powers across the globe are working together in an authoritarian axis to weaken the United States and harm our interests. Yet, in the face of this growing danger, our government has been more focused on advancing woke DEI programs than protecting the American people, defending democracy, and restoring order in the world.”
The Foreign Relations Committee will also see seven new members: Sens. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Curtis (R-Utah), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
