May 19, 2022

Duckworth Meets with Nominee for NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — After meeting with General Christopher G. Cavoli, U.S. Army, ahead of his confirmation for reappointment to the grade of General and to be NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Airland Subcommittee, issued the following statement:

“As Russia continues its unjustifiable attack on Ukraine’s sovereign territory, a united NATO and continued close coordination with our allies are more important than ever. That’s why I was pleased to speak with General Cavoli about his nomination to be NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe. I believe he will work tirelessly to strengthen the NATO alliance that is so critically important right now. I’m proud that Congress and the White House have worked in a bipartisan manner to send military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine that have enabled their brave people to beat back Putin’s violent invasion. What’s clear right now is that this violent invasion is succeeding in only one thing: uniting the free world against Russia’s autocratic regime in support of Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty, its people and its right to self-governance. I look forward to working with General Cavoli to continue supporting our allies and the NATO alliance well into the future.”

Duckworth has been a strong supporter of Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. She joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jon Tester (D-MT) and six of her colleagues in introducing the Digital Asset Sanctions Compliance Enhancement Act to ensure that Vladimir Putin and Russian elites can’t use digital assets to undermine the international community’s economic sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Duckworth also urged the Biden Administration to accelerate the sale of M1A2 SEPv3 tanks to Poland. The letter also asked the Biden Administration to engage with additional NATO allies to determine if the Russian Federation’s brutal act of war requires the U.S to develop and execute any additional sales to strengthen the military capabilities of other NATO members. She also called on the Biden Administration to grant Temporary Protected Status to Ukrainians in the U.S. following the Russian military invasion.

Duckworth was one of the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. She served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring from military service in 2014 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She served on the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) during her four years serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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