John Garamendi Asks DoD Official_ Are Our European NATO Partners Critical To U.S. National Security_

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During a House Armed Services Committee hearing held before the congressional recess, Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) questioned DoD Assistant Secretary Katherine Thompson about US partnership with NATO allies.

Transcript

00:00Gentlemen, I recognize the gentleman from California, Mr. Garamendi.

00:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your clarity of your statement,

00:07as well as for the ranking member, Mr. Smith.

00:11General Cavoli, thank you for your service.

00:14You've been at this a long time, and the clarity of your testimony today

00:17is extraordinarily important to all of us about the role of EUCOM

00:22and the defense of Europe, also the defense of the United States.

00:28My question really goes to Ms. Thompson,

00:32and I would like to have clarity about the administration's belief or not

00:38that our NATO-European partners are critical to U.S. national security.

00:46Thank you for the question, Congressman.

00:48I would point you to Secretary Hegseth's comments on his first trip overseas,

00:52which was to the NATO Defense Ministerial,

00:54and where he acknowledged that NATO is the most successful defense alliance in history

00:58and that he made clear that we are not abandoning our European allies.

01:02In fact, our efforts and President Trump's efforts,

01:05particularly on the defense spending front,

01:07is meant to bring our European allies alongside us to develop a status quo.

01:12I got all that from your testimony, but my question was different.

01:16My question is, is or are the European allies critical to our national American security?

01:25I would say a strong defense and deterrence in Europe is certainly in our national interest,

01:31particularly as the Department has an aim to focus on homeland defense,

01:36and certainly as the chairman and ranking member recognized the looming threat of conflict with China

01:42and the Indo-Pacific, having partners in Europe that as allies and partners are strong on defense and deterrence

01:48and are capable only helps further those interests for us.

01:53The lack of clarity in your answer is noted.

01:56However, it's also clear that the statements from the administration, including the Secretary and the Vice President,

02:07would indicate that the administration does not value our NATO allies.

02:14Calling them pathetic and other demeaning words,

02:19and also missing the monthly NATO meeting,

02:25would indicate that perhaps the administration's view does not coincide with your roundabout statement.

02:33So, the question is,

02:35does the U.S. still value the partners that we have in Europe?

02:43Thank you for the question, Congressman.

02:45And again, I would say, as the Secretary and the President have emphasized,

02:48we do value our partners in Europe to the extent that they're willing to step up

02:52and be strong allies and partners with us,

02:55and that means pulling their weight.

02:57And that's the tough message and the honest message that this administration has been delivering,

03:01and we believe it's important to be honest with our allies

03:04and that that only builds a stronger relationship for us and for our European allies and partners.

03:11Maybe that's not correct.

03:12Maybe it actually weakens our partnership when you demean,

03:19when you discourage,

03:20and when you place them in a lower value.

03:25Moving beyond that,

03:27I just note the self-inflicted wounds

03:31that the administration has put in place

03:35in Europe

03:36and the extraordinary additional burden

03:40that places on

03:41our military leadership,

03:45trying to hold it together.

03:47I want to also thank

03:49Mr. Turner

03:52for the clarity that he brought

03:54with regard to the

03:55command of NATO.

03:57General Cavoli,

04:00there are

04:00many

04:02facilities

04:05in Europe,

04:07some of them on the eastern side

04:09in Poland.

04:10Are there any plans to

04:12change the footprint

04:14of the U.S. military

04:16on the eastern front?

04:21Congressman,

04:22we move forces around

04:24frequently

04:25in Europe.

04:26Our air forces

04:27are hopping all around,

04:28our maritime forces,

04:29even our ground forces

04:30move from place to place,

04:32but the principal locations

04:34where we have forces right now,

04:37that's where they are,

04:38and that's where I'm planning

04:40to keep them.

04:42Very generous,

04:43some of the countries

04:44on the eastern flank,

04:46Poland,

04:46$3.2 billion in infrastructure

04:48to provide housing

04:51for our servicemen

04:53who are rotating through there.

04:54Lithuania is

04:55built a city

04:56for an armor battalion.

04:58I think that got at

04:59your question, sir.

05:00If not,

05:00please let me know.

05:03I will in the classified.

05:05Yield back.

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Transcript

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