WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered opening remarks at the hearing on the nomination of Warren Stephens to be Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Thomas Barrack to be Ambassador to Türkiye and Tilman Fertitta to be Ambassador to both Italy and San Marino. In her opening remarks, Ranking Member Shaheen emphasized the importance of U.S. alliances with the United Kingdom, Italy and Türkiye and highlighted their roles in NATO, trade and the importance of democratic values which underpin our respective relationships.
You can watch her opening remarks here.
“If confirmed you will be representing the United States in Türkiye, Italy and the United Kingdom—three countries that are important NATO allies, strong supporters of Ukraine and key to advancing American interests,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “As you know, one of our greatest security assets is our alliances.”
Ranking Member Shaheen also raised concerns about democratic backsliding in Türkiye and urged continued U.S. engagement on human rights and strategic interests.
“Many of us are concerned by the Turkish government’s arrest of the mayor of Istanbul who is a presidential candidate,” said Ranking Member Shaheen. “We must continue raising issues like the detention of journalists and the violent crackdown on protestors.”
The Ranking Member’s opening remarks, as delivered, are below.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our nominees today and we’re delighted to have your families here as well. If confirmed, you will be representing the United States in Türkiye, Italy and the United Kingdom—three countries that are important NATO allies, strong supporters of Ukraine and key to advancing American interests. As you know, one of our greatest security assets is our alliances, and I agree that we need to have our allies pay their fair share of defense spending. To their credit, our allies have listened—at least most of them. More than 23 of 32 NATO allies are now meeting the 2 percent defense spending target. But U.S. support for these alliances isn’t charity—it’s a strategic investment in our own security.
Mr. Stephens—as you know—the U.S. and the UK share a historic and very special relationship – as you said in your opening statement. Today that alliance matters more than ever. The UK is one of our biggest trading partners, and last year we had a trade surplus of nearly 12 billion dollars. The UK also plays a critical role in the AUKUS agreement with Australia, helping to build our submarine base which means high-quality American jobs and a strategic edge over China in the Indo-Pacific. The UK’s role in NATO is also critical. It serves as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe. And so Mr. Stephens—if confirmed—I hope you will continue to build on the U.S.-UK alliance.
Mr. Fertitta, you have been nominated to Italy which plays an important role in shaping Europe and the broader region. Italy backed sanctions against Russia after Putin invaded Ukraine. It’s supported efforts to stabilize the Western Balkans. And from managing migration across the Mediterranean to confronting Russia’s influence in Africa, Italy plays a critical role in securing NATO’s southern flank. As you pointed out, Prime Minister Meloni has a good relationship with the Trump Administration—she was the only European leader to attend President Trump’s inauguration. So Mr. Fertitta—if confirmed—I hope you will continue strengthening the ties between the United States and Italy.
Finally—Mr. Barrack—your nomination to lead our mission in Türkiye comes at a very delicate time, as we discussed when we met. Many of us are concerned by the Turkish government’s arrest of the mayor of Istanbul who is a presidential candidate. We must continue raising issues like the detention of journalists and the violent crackdown on protestors. You’ll also need to be attentive to Türkiye’s interests in Syria. The Syria that emerges from the rubble of the Assad regime must be stable and inclusive – it cannot be allowed to become a launching ground for terrorist attacks against the U.S. and our allies. Whether confronting Putin’s aggression or managing the conflict in the Middle East, Türkiye is a critical ally. It controls access to the Black Sea, and it has been vital in helping Ukraine—such as facilitating the first Black Sea grain deal. Mr. Barrack—if confirmed—you certainly will have your work cut out for you.
I look forward to hearing the thoughts and insights from all the nominees today. Thank you.
###