Former United States Secretary of Defence, Robert Gates has made a direct plea to Senators to confirm Julie Smith, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be the next Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
The former Pentagon chief under the Administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama wrote to lawmakers saying it was critically important for the US to have a NATO Ambassador, at a time when Russia had threatened the Ukraine militarily and to cut off energy supplies to America’s NATO allies.
Ms Smith (pictured) a long-time defence expert in Democratic foreign-policy circles, who was a former aide to Mr Gates at the Pentagon, was nominated in June.
In a statement, Republican Senator, Josh Hawley, who has held up Ms Smith’s nomination, said he was lifting the blockade which was over raising NATO’s defence spending pledge from other countries.
“Today’s security environment is far worse than the one we confronted in 2014, and our allies must increase defence spending accordingly,” Senator Hawley said.
“Julianne Smith recognises that need and has committed to push our allies to go beyond previous commitments,” he said.
Mr Gates’ letter reflects mounting concern and frustration in the Biden Administration about an unprecedented blanket hold on State Department nominees from Republican Senator, Ted Cruz in a dispute over a Russian pipeline project.
On latest figures Mr Biden has submitted 124 nominees for senior State Department and US Agency for International Development roles to the Senate.
Of those, the Senate has confirmed only 30.
There are nearly 100 Ambassador posts still vacant.
Republican Senator, Marco Rubio has announced he is holding up Mr Biden’s Ambassador nominee to China, veteran diplomat R. Nicholas Burns, and to Spain, Julissa Reynoso Pantaleón.
“Nicholas Burns has a long career in public service, but it is a career defined by the failure to understand the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party,” Senator Rubio said.
The holds prevent the Senate from approving less controversial Ambassador nominees by unanimous voice vote.
It takes up valuable floor time on the Senate when Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer is already juggling other major pieces of legislation.
Washington, 19 November 2021
