Woonsocket Radio News Room

Vice Ranking Member Amo Defends Global Partnerships to Promote American Influence Abroad

Amo calls for bipartisan commitment to building alliances and partnerships such as AUKUS to counter China’s influence

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Vice Ranking Member Gabe Amo (RI-01) participated in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific hearing where he highlighted the Biden Administration’s work to build up critical alliances like the Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) security pact to counter Chinese influence. In addition, Congressman Amo warned against the damage done by the Trump Administration’s decision to illegally freeze foreign aid and weaken our nation’s standing abroad.

 

“I’m hopeful that [the Trump administration] will demonstrate that they value these partnerships, that they understand the value therein, because we’ve seen questioning of our transatlantic alliances and foreign aid freezes. We want to lower the temperature and ensure that our friends around the world aren’t going to question our commitment to our values — jeopardizing those would be a problem to proceeding as we should in AUKUS,” said Vice Ranking Member Amo. “It is my hope that we don’t have an absence of American leadership because if that is the case, China will take advantage to fill that vacuum, reaching out to our allies and partners, being more of a threat in the Indo-Pacific, and doing the work to combat our values, our sense of leadership in the world. That’s a message that I think we can all agree on.”

 

Watch Congressman Amo’s remarks

 

REMARKS AS DELIVERED

Thank you very much Chairwoman — it's a pleasure to be on this subcommittee and I look forward to your leadership and that of the Ranking Member over this Congress.

 

I know that every member of our subcommittee wants to advance American interests and counter China’s influence in East Asia and the Pacific.

 

Every member should want to strengthen our supply chains, boost economic cooperation, and protect our national security.

 

And I believe that every member understands the only way to achieve this is by building alliances and partnerships.

 

As we look at the last four years, I believe that President Biden understood these points. It is why he led a historic effort to establish one of the most significant security agreements in generations - Australia, United Kingdom, United States Security pact.

 

It’s important to break it down and share that AUKUS improves monitoring and increases deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. It allows the United States to continue our leadership in emerging defense technology.

 

Pillar I created a pathway for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines. Pillar II created deeper cooperation between all three allies advanced defense capabilities.

 

Many businesses in my home state of Rhode Island are working on technology included in AUKUS — like the Virginia-class submarine — or they’re developing technology for Pillar II like the next generation of underwater drones.

 

This agreement promotes national security and boosts local economies with good-paying jobs. It strengthens our relationships around the world.

 

I greatly appreciate your point of emphasis on growing partnerships.

 

And I’m hopeful that after the past 36 days of Trump Administration, that the administration will demonstrate that they value these partnerships, they understand the value therein, because we’ve seen questioning our transatlantic alliances, we’ve seen foreign aid freezes, and we want to lower the temperature and ensure that our friends around the world aren’t going to question our commitment to our values and jeopardizing those would be a problem to proceeding as we should in AUKUS.

 

It is my hope that we don’t have an absence of American leadership because if that is the case, China will take advantage to fill that vacuum, reaching out to our allies and partners, being more of a threat in the Indo-Pacific and doing the work to combat our values, our sense of leadership in the world. That’s a message that I think we can all agree on.

 

I yield.