U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Roger Wicker, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued a statement on June 23 in support of Darrell Owens’s nomination to serve as U.S. Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), with the rank of Ambassador.
The senators said, “American leadership at the OSCE matters now more than ever. For five decades, the Helsinki principles have served as a foundation for security and cooperation across Europe, Central Asia and North America, rooted in respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, the peaceful settlement of disputes, human rights and fundamental freedoms. Vladimir Putin’s brutal war against Ukraine has violated every one of those commitments, from Russia’s illegal attempts to annex Ukrainian territory to its attacks on civilians, abduction of Ukrainian children and campaign of disinformation aimed at weakening democratic institutions across the region.”
They continued by saying that it is important for the United States to have a strong presence at forums like OSCE during times when authoritarian powers are challenging transatlantic resolve. The statement said, “At a moment when authoritarian powers are testing transatlantic resolve, the United States must have a strong and principled voice in one of the few forums dedicated to defending these commitments and holding governments accountable when they violate them. Mr. Owens understands the stakes, the threat posed by Russia’s aggression and the importance of standing with Ukraine and our democratic allies.”
The senators urged timely action before an upcoming international meeting: “With the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly set to convene in The Hague on July 4, the Senate should act without delay. Hundreds of parliamentarians from across the OSCE region will gather to confront some of the most urgent challenges facing the transatlantic community, including Russia’s war against Ukraine, human rights abuses, democratic backsliding and hybrid threats like disinformation and cyberattacks. The United States should have its representative in place before that work begins. We urge our colleagues to support Mr. Owens’ nomination and confirm him without delay.”
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee was established in 1816 as one of Congress’s original standing committees; it operates within government as a legislative body focused on international relations. It designates its Chairman for majority members while its Ranking Member leads minority members. The committee has shaped foreign policy through measures such as supporting or rejecting key treaties like Versailles or programs such as the Truman Doctrine or Marshall Plan, all according to information available from the official website.