U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered opening remarks at a full committee nomination hearing on October 23, 2025. The hearing considered several nominees for key diplomatic positions: Amer Ghalib as ambassador to Kuwait, Brent Christensen as ambassador to Bangladesh, Benjamin Leon as ambassador to Spain, Leo Bozell as ambassador to South Africa, and Morvared Namdarkhan as assistant secretary of State for consular affairs.
Risch began by acknowledging the sacrifices made by the nominees and their families. He addressed each nominee in turn regarding the challenges they may face if confirmed.
Addressing Leo Bozell, Risch said: “Mr. Bozell, as you are aware, the U.S.–South Africa relationship is at a crossroads. We must decide whether it can be salvaged or whether to treat the South African government as it has treated us: like an adversary.
“Its corruption is robbing the South African people, its leaders pick fights with Washington, and its deepening ties with Iran, China, and Russia come at the expense of our allies, like Taiwan and Israel.
“It is critical that, if confirmed as ambassador, you engage with the government to advance U.S. interests and challenge the status quo that is bad for South Africans and America’s relationships with South Africa. I look forward to hearing your plans for this important mission.”
Turning to Benjamin Leon's nomination for Spain, Risch stated: “Mr. Leon, as you know, Spain has been an important partner of the United States, but I share President Trump’s concerns regarding Spain’s commitment to our shared interests. Spain was one of the first countries to make the gross mistake of recognizing a Palestinian state and has called for an arms embargo against Israel, which only rewards the terrorists that plague the Middle East. Those kinds of actions encourage Hamas instead of deterring them.
“Spain is the only NATO ally that refused to commit 5% of its GDP to defense spending. President Trump has made it clear that Spain needs to get with the program, especially as Russia ramps up its provocations against our common allies.
“And Spain has failed to address the security risks China poses to the transatlantic community, notably by continuing government contracts with Huawei and pursuing closer economic ties with Beijing – both of those are very dangerous. Mr. Leon, I hope you will work with your counterparts in Spain to fix these mistakes.”
Regarding Amer Ghalib's nomination for Kuwait, Risch commented: “Mr. Ghalib, Kuwait is an important partner in a particularly turbulent region of the world. Dating back to the Gulf War, the U.S. has had a vested interest in the security of Kuwait and has maintained a deep partnership with the country including a vital partner in the counter-ISIS mission. Further, U.S. business has been involved in Kuwait for years.
“That’s why it is particularly disappointing that Kuwait has refused to pay U.S. companies for work performed in Kuwait and it has been critical of Israel’s efforts to defend itself against Hamas and Iran’s influence. As America remains a steadfast ally of Israel, the President has nominated you to defend U.S. support for Israel in Kuwait. That will be your solemn responsibility.”
Risch also addressed Morvared Namdarkhan about her prospective role overseeing consular affairs: “Ms. Namdar, the enormous passport and visa backlogs during the pandemic demonstrated the importance of the work that consular officers do every day on behalf of the American people.
“Consular officers are often the first U.S. officials Americans contact when things go wrong while traveling abroad. And when people from other countries make plans to spend their money in America, consular officers are often the first people they see. Consular Affairs officers are also the first line of defense to protect our country from those who might seek to do us harm.
“You must be responsive to the needs of American citizens abroad and to members of Congress who hear from them and represent them when things go wrong. I hope you will take this responsibility seriously – I know you will.
"Your role will also carry a tremendous amount of charge with respect to how America is viewed on the world stage, and I look forward to hearing your plans to improve the efficiency of America’s consular offices.”
Finally addressing Brent Christensen's nomination for Bangladesh following recent political changes there after Sheik Hasina's government fell last year—an event marking significant change—Risch said: “Mr. Christensen, if confirmed as ambassador, I hope that you’ll work with your counterparts to promote stability in [Bangladesh] and protect American interests. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how our relationship with Bangladesh should evolve during this time, as well as your priorities in this role.”
The full witness testimony from this hearing can be found at foreign.senate.gov.
