US Ambassadors to the Pacific Urge Action on Ukraine, Israel and the Border Bill
A group of US ambassadors stationed in the Indo-Pacific region is urging congressional leaders to consider the passage of legislation providing support to UkraineIsrael and its allies in the Pacific say America's credibility with its strategic partners is at stake.
“Governments are looking at what we do at this crucial moment in history – a time when decisions we make now will have lasting consequences for years to come,” said the letter from nine diplomats sent to Capitol Hill on Monday. “They want to see that when push comes to shove, the United States will be there for our allies and partners.”
The letter is somewhat unusual for a diplomatic corps that is typically reluctant to engage in such battles publicly. But the ambassadors, who met recently at a regional conference, said the importance of the aid and the signals it would generate justified the call.
A $118 billion emergency national security package that ties aid to U.S. allies to a strict new border policy demanded by Republicans is on the brink of collapse in Congress ahead of a test vote in the Senate on Wednesday. will take place.
“None of us have ever signed a letter like this,” was the message to the four top congressional leaders from a mix of career diplomats and those with more political backgrounds. “But given the gravity of this historic moment, we believe it is imperative to share our direct and honest assessment with you as you consider the additional funding request, which we view as essential.”
The ambassadors who signed the letter were Philip Goldberg of South Korea, Rahm Emanuel of Japan, Caroline Kennedy of Australia, MaryKay Carlson of the Philippines, Eric Garcetti of India, Nicholas Burns of China, Tom Udall of New Zealand, Edgard Kagan of Malaysia and Marc Knapper of Vietnam.
“Some of the ambassadors signing this letter are themselves former members of Congress or have served in the legislative process; “We all deeply appreciate Congress's critical role in foreign affairs and recognize that budgets are ultimately a legislative matter,” the report said. “Nevertheless, we believe it is important to make clear to you immediately the profound effect this budget decision will have on our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.”
Many supporters of the legislation in Congress have warned that failure to continue aid to Ukraine could embolden China in the region. The ambassadors said countries with expansionist ideas would take note of the outcome when lawmakers hold a vote described in the letter as one of the most consequential in a generation.
“Not only our allies and partners will take stock of this moment, but also our adversaries,” the report said. “The credibility of our commitment to collective security and deterrence is at stake.”
The package to be voted on Wednesday would send $60 billion in additional aid to Ukraine, $14 billion to Israel and nearly $5 billion to partners in the Indo-Pacific to counter China.