Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of my amendment, and I thank the chairman for including it in the next en bloc amendment, one that brings accountability to countries granting consent to Russian naval vessels calling into port. The aggressive posture and actions of the Russian Federation over the last few years has profoundly changed the global landscape. Russia has invaded Crimea, and currently still occupies that region. And Russia directly intervened militarily to shore up the Assad regime in Syria. The common thread that runs through these two interventions is that of warm water ports for the Russian navy. Crimea's port in Sevastopol and Syria's port of Tartus provide Russia with access to the warm waters of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, waters that are essential to Russia's reach of aggression. Despite these aggressive actions, some countries are accommodating the Russian navy by allowing warships and submarines to call into their ports. Spain, although a cherished NATO ally, grants Russia access to the ports in its enclaves across the strategically important Strait of Gibraltar, where the United Kingdom has a Permanent Joint Operating Base that hosts U.S. ships. Furthermore, Greece and Malta have hosted Russian warships last year. The recent high-profile visits to Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua by Russia's navy in recent years are also cause for concern. Mr. Chairman, governments across the globe should be isolating the Russian navy, not accommodating it.…”