Columbia News

Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) engaged in a line of questioning with United States Navy Vice Admiral Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who is nominated for promotion to the rank of Admiral and the position of Commander of the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The discussion centered on wasteful foreign policy initiatives and deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.

Senator Schmitt criticized spending on foreign policy projects that he believes do not serve America's national security interests. He cited examples such as "$500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda, $3.3 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe, $300,000 to hold a pride parade in Lesotho," among others. He questioned whether these expenditures are beneficial given current resource constraints.

The senator expressed concerns about how these policies might undermine America's soft power. "In my view, these are policy matters," he said. "I think that when we do this, it totally undermines the desire to have real soft power."

The conversation also touched upon America's strategic posture and alliances in the Indo-Pacific region. Senator Schmitt asked about balancing counter-terrorism missions with direct action against threats like those posed by activities in the South China Sea.

Admiral Bradley responded by highlighting past successes in counter-terrorism operations since 9/11 and emphasized the importance of alliances in the Indo-Pacific. He noted that "force multiplication efforts are a critical capability" and mentioned successful cooperation with allies such as the Philippines.

Senator Schmitt further queried whether other regional allies like Australia and Japan are prepared to collaborate effectively with the United States. Admiral Bradley affirmed his belief that these nations are indeed ready to work alongside America.