Coverage adviser nominee Elbridge Colby has been a fierce critic of navy help for Kiev
US President-elect Donald Trump has introduced his nominations for 4 senior Pentagon positions. One of many picks, Elbridge Colby, has been a vocal opponent of President Joe Biden’s navy help to Ukraine.
In a publish on his Reality Social platform on Sunday, Trump named Stephen Feinberg as his deputy secretary of protection, Colby as undersecretary for coverage, Michael Duffey for undersecretary for acquisitions and sustainment, and Emil Michael as undersecretary for analysis and engineering.
Colby served in a senior Pentagon position throughout Trump’s first administration and helped draft the 2018 US Nationwide Protection Technique, which recognized China because the US’ main “strategic competitor.” If confirmed as undersecretary for coverage, he’ll advise Feinberg and potential Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on all issues of protection and nationwide safety.
An anti-interventionist, Colby opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq and each American abroad deployment since. Whereas he helps financial sanctions on Russia, he has repeatedly warned that sending Ukraine tens of billions of {dollars} price of navy support doesn’t profit the US, and dangers sparking a 3rd world battle.
“I believe [nuclear war] is shut,” he advised former Fox Information host Tucker Carlson final month, including that “the people who find themselves blithe about it are extremely irresponsible.”
“The Ukrainians are dropping the battle,” he stated, earlier than explaining that the US navy must focus its manpower and sources on “protection of the homeland.”
Colby has additionally argued towards Ukraine’s admission to NATO, and stated that refusing to become involved within the ongoing battle with Russia wouldn’t have broken the US’ credibility because the bloc’s largest navy energy.
Duffey has additionally served beneath Trump earlier than. In 2019, he ordered the suspension of navy support to Ukraine after a telephone name between Trump and Zelensky. Democrat lawmakers impeached Trump over this name, claiming that Trump used the help as leverage to stress Zelensky into reopening a corruption investigation towards then-candidate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. Trump and Zelensky each insisted that no such deal was organized over the telephone, and the US Senate voted to acquit Trump in 2020.
Feinberg is a hedge fund supervisor and main donor to Trump, whereas Michael was a senior govt at ride-sharing agency Uber.
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