GOP senators grill Trump defense nominee on Iran, Taiwan, NATO
Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) grilled Elbridge Colby, President Trump’s pick to serve as undersecretary of Defense for policy, over his evolving stances on Iran, Taiwan and NATO allies.
Republican senators have privately raised concerns over Colby’s past statements, specifically what they interpret as his past desire to shift U.S. national security focus away from the Middle East and Europe and toward Taiwan and China.
Senate GOP sources say that Colby’s nomination may get less deference from Republican senators now that the Senate has confirmed most controversial Trump’s Cabinet picks, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
GOP senators are particularly alarmed over Colby’s past suggestion that the United States could tolerate a nuclear-armed Iran and that it would not be in the nation’s interest to launch military operations to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure.
Republican members of the Armed Services Committee also pressed Colby on what some view as his softening stance on defending Taiwan, given what the nominee has called an emerging military capabilities imbalance between China, which now has the world’s largest maritime fighting force, and the United States, which faces defense spending cuts.
Cotton, the chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, asked some of the most pointed questions at Colby’s confirmation hearing Tuesday.
“I have some concerns about what you’ve said in the past, namely if we had to choose between hoping to contain a nuclear Iran and preventing Iran with military force from getting nukes that we should tolerate a nuclear Iran and try to contain it,” Cotton told the nominee. “You have prudently cited the view that, the only thing worse than the prospects of Iran armed with nuclear weapons would be the consequences of using force to try to stop them.
“That’s certainly not my view, but more important, it’s not President Trump’s policy,” Cotton declared.
Cotton, a former U.S. Army captain who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, noted that Trump has said for more than a decade that Iran cannot be allowed to get nuclear weapons and stated in a national security presidential memorandum last month that a nuclear Iran poses an existential danger to the United States and cannot be allowed to acquire or develop such weapons.
But the Arkansas senator acknowledged that Colby, in his written answers to the committee, now says the United States should deny Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon.
Colby told Cotton that he would commit to providing Trump with “credible and realistic” military options to stop Iran from going nuclear, such as possibly providing U.S. refueling tankers and heavy bombers to strike Iran.
On the subject of Taiwan, Cotton asked the nominee why he had “softened” his stance on providing security guarantees for Taiwan.
“Over the past couple years, you’ve started to say … that Taiwan is a vital interest, but it’s not [an] existential interest to us or it’s not essential to us. It seems that you have changed your thoughts somewhat in the last couple of years,” Cotton said.
“Could you explain to us why in the last few years you’ve seemed to soften somewhat about the defense of Taiwan?” he asked.
Colby responded that he always has said that Taiwan is “very important” to the United States, but he argued it’s “not an existential interest.”
But he said the change in the “military balance” between the United States and China has forced U.S. policymakers to reconsider the national security interest in defending Taiwan in an all-out conflict with China.
“What’s changed senator … is the dramatic deterioration of the military balance,” he said. “It’s different to engage in a futile, in an overly costly effort that would destroy our military,” asserting that there’s a “lack of preparedness on our part” to take on China in its own sphere of influence.
And Colby argued that Taiwan’s defense spending is well below 3 percent of its gross domestic product and needs to boost that level to 10 percent of GDP.
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) asked Colby about his views of U.S. membership in the NATO alliance, something that some Trump allies such as tech billionaire Elon Musk argue is no longer useful. Musk and Sen. Mike Lee (R) of Utah recently called for the United States to withdraw from NATO.
“Are you a strong supporter of the NATO alliance?” Sullivan asked. “You still think that’s a useful, important alliance for the United States?”
Colby told the committee: “I do. Again, senator, I very much believe in NATO, but I believe it has to … adapt.”
Colby pointed out that West Germany in 1988, which at the time was two-thirds the size of present-day Germany, fielded 12 active divisions while present-day Germany “can’t put a single division together now.”
“It’s not tenable. I think we’re seeing progress. Now the question is, how do we manage this dangerous period of transition?” he said.
Sullivan quickly interjected: “I agree with all that, but it’s worth reforming because it does provide power and strength to the United States.”
The Alaska senator, a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, then followed up on Cotton’s questions about his views of a nuclear-armed Iran.
He cited an editorial published in the Wall Street Journal on Monday that criticized the nominee for describing the Middle East as a “tertiary region” and his suggestion that “the U.S. could tolerate a nuclear Iran.”
“That suggestion is no longer your view, correct?” Sullivan demanded.
Colby pledged, “I believe we should not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon and, if confirmed, I would believe that it’s my responsibility to provide credible, good military” recommendations for preventing that outcome.
“You believe that, personally?” Sullivan asked.
Colby backed away from his past statements, explaining, “I’ve been in the policy debate a long time.”
“Not everything I said I would say” again, he added.
“A lot of what I was arguing against at the time — this conversation was 15 years ago — a lot of the opponents I felt had a casual or in some cases even a flippant attitude toward the employment of military force. That’s a lot of what I was arguing against,” he said.
“Was my wording always appropriate? Was my precise framing always appropriate. No,” he said.
Sullivan cut him off: “Is Iran with a nuclear weapon an existential threat to the United States?”
“Yes,” Colby responded. “I think we now have the leadership of the vice president, the secretary of Defense and ultimately the president who understand we need to be militarily strong but also understand the downside risks of the employment of military force.”
Vice President Vance made a special appearance before the committee to endorse Colby’s nomination.
He was also introduced by freshman Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.).
Topics
-
Senators grill Trump’s CFPB director pick: You are 'on the Titanic, good luck’
Since acting CFPB Director Russell Vought took over, the agency closed its Washington HQ, fired staff and told those who remain to stop nearly all work.CNBC - 5d -
Trump's NATO nominee commits to alliance, despite MAGA opponents
President Trump’s nominee for ambassador to NATO expressed a commitment to the alliance during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, despite Trump allies — including Elon Musk — calling for a U.S. ...The Hill - 53m -
Trump stuns Senate GOP with House budget endorsement
“Did not see that one coming,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.Politico - Feb. 19 -
Trump asserts dominance as GOP senators come to heel
President Trump has proven to be a dominant force in politics and other aspects of American life in his first month back in the White House, showcasing how much his influence has grown since he ...The Hill - Feb. 22 -
McConnell becomes maverick for Trump, GOP Senate
Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-Ky.) decision to conclude his storied political career marks the end of an era for Senate Republicans, especially as the longtime GOP leader increasingly signals he’s a ...The Hill - Feb. 22 -
Trump: GOP senator had 'close call' with fall
President Trump weighed in on the recent head injury sustained by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) after he slipped and fell on ice during a trip home, wishing him a speedy recovery but noting the ...The Hill - 6d -
Trump Labor Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer Faces Pressure at Senate Hearing
Asked for her views on pro-labor legislation she backed as a House Republican, Lori Chavez-DeRemer said she would simply serve the president’s agenda.The New York Times - Feb. 19 -
Senate Democrats press Trump's FTC commissioner nominee over agency independence
Multiple Senate Democrats on the Commerce, Science and Transportation on Tuesday pressed President Trump's Federal Trade Commissioner nominee, Mark Meador, over the independence of the agency amid ...The Hill - Feb. 25
More from The Hill
-
CDC says it is on the ground in Texas to aid in measles outbreak response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is on the ground in Texas to aid the state in tamping down a measles outbreak, the agency said Tuesday. The agency in a statement on the social ...The Hill - 31m -
Maine Democrat urges Zelensky to 'call and win a new election'
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “call and win a new election” to “strengthen his hand” in negotiating a peace agreement to end the three-year war in ...The Hill - 35m -
Durbin asks for bar investigation into Bove over Adams case
Senate Judiciary Democrats filed a complaint against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove with the New York State Bar, asking for an investigation into his role in dismissing charges against ...The Hill - 36m -
DC-area Democrats urge RFK Jr. to reinstate fired NIH, HSS staff
Washington, D.C.-area Democrats are urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reinstate the staff fired from HSS and the National Institute of Health. ...The Hill - 40m -
Trump's NATO nominee commits to alliance, despite MAGA opponents
President Trump’s nominee for ambassador to NATO expressed a commitment to the alliance during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday, despite Trump allies — including Elon Musk — calling for a U.S. ...The Hill - 53m
More in Politics
-
CDC says it is on the ground in Texas to aid in measles outbreak response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is on the ground in Texas to aid the state in tamping down a measles outbreak, the agency said Tuesday. The agency in a statement on the social ...The Hill - 31m -
Trump tariffs will have ‘winners and losers all across the board’: House Ways & Means Cmte. chair
Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) discusses the impact of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on Canada, China and Mexico ahead of the president's address to a ...NBC News - 32m -
Maine Democrat urges Zelensky to 'call and win a new election'
Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “call and win a new election” to “strengthen his hand” in negotiating a peace agreement to end the three-year war in ...The Hill - 35m -
Durbin asks for bar investigation into Bove over Adams case
Senate Judiciary Democrats filed a complaint against Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove with the New York State Bar, asking for an investigation into his role in dismissing charges against ...The Hill - 36m -
DC-area Democrats urge RFK Jr. to reinstate fired NIH, HSS staff
Washington, D.C.-area Democrats are urging Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reinstate the staff fired from HSS and the National Institute of Health. ...The Hill - 40m