[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5695-S5696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            THE MIDDLE EAST

  Mr. LANKFORD. There is something happening on Monday that much of the 
world has missed as well in the Middle East. For a year, there has been 
a process ongoing to be able to confront Iran.

[[Page S5696]]

Iran has actively stated they are going to continue to pursue their 
nuclear ambitions. They have actively stated they are going to pursue 
weapons deals. They have actively stated they want to continue to break 
the arms embargo.
  Some of our allies have stood silent, but Iran has discussed 
purchasing weapons of all types from all places. We used to be united--
regardless whether it was nuclear or not--that Iran should not continue 
to accelerate that. As the largest exporter of terrorism in the world, 
we should confront what Iran is trying to do--continue to provide heavy 
arms.
  As of Monday, the United States will move into a different mode with 
Iran. As of midnight Sunday night, snap back sanctions begin on Iran on 
Monday. And that is a different moment for us as a nation, to say we 
have stated as a country, now through multiple Presidencies, that we 
will not allow Iran to be a nuclear power or to continue to arm itself 
in such a way to do its neighbors harm.
  When snap back sanctions occur on Monday, all of our allies should be 
aware that the United States is steadfast in that commitment. We would 
ask you to join us in that as well.
  Over the past few months, thousands of troops have come back home 
from the Middle East--from Syria, from Iraq, from Afghanistan. By the 
end of this year, we will have 4,500 troops still in Afghanistan; that 
is from a high just a few years ago of 100,000 boots on the ground.
  Ongoing negotiations for peace continue between Afghan leadership and 
the Taliban. Those are problems that have existed for decades and in 
some areas, generations.
  While I don't believe Afghanistan will suddenly break out and be a 
bastion of peace for the world, we do have a responsibility to help 
them where we can but also an obligation to protect our sons and 
daughters. Our blood and our treasures spilled in Afghanistan for 
decades. We shouldn't lose the investment of that blood and treasure. 
But it is good to see so many people coming home.
  In Europe, a free-trade agreement is actively being negotiated with 
the UK. We are pleased to be able to partner with such a special-
relationship country like the United Kingdom. We have had a long-
lasting friendship with them since we settled a little conflict in 1776 
and another dustup in 1812. That special relationship with the UK 
should continue on with a very good trade agreement.
  I am pleased that the administration continues to push forward in the 
area of trade--an area that it is amazing to me how many people didn't 
even notice was the powder keg of Europe that just recently was 
resolved.
  For generations, the area around Serbia, Kosovo have been a hotbed 
area for conflict.
  In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has negotiated a 
peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo that leaves Serbia to actually 
officially recognize Kosovo. Again, that may not seem like a big deal 
to many other people, but to Oklahomans--many of whom have served in 
our 45th and who have served there in Kosovo, helping to protect and 
stabilize that country and provide security there in that region--it is 
very significant to us to be able to see peace breaking out between 
Serbia and Kosovo.
  I am pleased that, while many people in the world don't even pay 
attention to what is happening in Serbia and Kosovo, the Trump 
administration has, and their diplomatic team has been very engaged in 
negotiating that and bringing to them some stability.
  Interestingly enough, in the negotiations both Serbia and Kosovo also 
agreed to designate Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization and 
to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to be able to move 
their embassies to Jerusalem, which is another affirmation of what is 
happening in the Middle East in the string of what is ongoing.
  One last comment that many people may have missed, we all grieve for 
what is happening in Lebanon. That experiment in multiracial, 
multifaith, and cooperative government has been a struggle, but they 
have been a stronghold for religious tolerance in Lebanon. Watching the 
hundreds of people who were killed and thousands who were injured in 
the explosion at their docks in Beirut was painful for the entire 
world. The United States has stepped up as being the top donor to 
humanitarian aid to Lebanon during this time period, and we are 
engaging in multiple ways.
  At the end of the day, if we are going to help Lebanon be stable, we 
have to help that experiment in democracy there in the Middle East to 
be able to thrive with transparency.
  I partnered with Senator Murphy and several other colleagues to help 
set our Nation's priority to help Lebanon rebuild, including to utilize 
the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, called the DFC, 
to help them in their infrastructure projects; to push out China, which 
is trying to work their way into the Middle East and dominate there; to 
allow the people of Lebanon to decide their own future; to leverage 
leadership in the International Monetary Fund to prevent multilateral 
bailouts that don't allow for real reforms in their banking system; and 
to push out corruption and push out Hezbollah.
  There are things we can do that are not of a partisan nature on which 
Senator Murphy and I cooperate together to be able to help push for 
Lebanon. It is important that they continue to be a stable force in the 
region. This is a real time of testing for them as a country. I am 
proud the administration has pushed our diplomats in Lebanon to be able 
to find ways where we can practically help now and long term for real 
reforms for them. There is a lot going on around the world.
  While we are focused on COVID, rightfully so for our own health, 
while we focus on our economy, rightfully so, and while we focus on the 
issues of racial inequality, rightfully so, we cannot lose track of the 
issues we also need to be engaged in around the world. It is important 
that America continue to be a leader in diplomacy and a leader in 
bringing religious liberty and freedom and opportunity for all people.
  Whether you are in Hong Kong, as we discussed before, or whether you 
are in Abu Dhabi, all people deserve the recognition of their humanity 
and respect and an opportunity to be able to live their lives with 
freedom. Let's continue to stand for the values that define us and 
define us together.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maine

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