Foreign Policy & National Security

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) released the following statement on the death of Utah’s Lotan Abir, who was killed by Hamas militants in Israel.

Senator Romney, Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, today led a hearing with the Subcommittee’s Chairman, Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) examining security on the Korean Peninsula.

Senator Romney, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), joined SFRC Chairman Cardin (D-MD) and Ranking Member Risch (R-ID), and 24 of their colleagues in introducing a resolution calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich from Russia.

Senator Romney joined his colleagues in introducing the Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act. The bill would strengthen oversight of science and technology agreements (STAs) between the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) by requiring the Secretary of State to provide comprehensive details to Congress about any new, renewed, or extended agreement and establishing a minimum 30-day Congressional review period. This transparency and accountability provision includes thorough national security risk assessments, human rights considerations, and consistent monitoring mechanisms.

Senator Romney, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight Subcommittee, today led a bipartisan hearing with Senator Hassan (D-NH), Subcommittee Chair, to examine how advanced technologies—such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and bioengineering—may pose risks to national security.

Senators Romney and Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy respectively, introduced legislation to bolster the United States’ economic and cultural engagement with Southeast Asian countries. This bill enables the U.S. Department of State to establish a U.S.-ASEAN Center through a public-private partnership to focus on strengthening trade, investment, and people-to-people relationships between the U.S. and ASEAN countries.

Senator Romney applauded Senate passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, annual legislation that authorizes funding levels and provides authorities for the U.S. military and other critical defense priorities, ensuring America’s forces have the training, equipment, and resources they need to carry out their missions.

Senator Romney joined Senators Wicker (R-MS), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Collins (R-ME), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, as well as 22 of their Senate and House colleagues in calling on President Biden to take immediate action to strengthen the U.S. submarine industrial base as the U.S. works to fulfill the terms of the historic Australia-United Kingdom-United States (AUKUS) partnership.