Latest news with #PatriciaZengerle
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democrats look to block UAE arms sales, as Trump announces new deals
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. congressional Democrats on Thursday sought to block arms sales to the United Arab Emirates over its alleged involvement in Sudan's civil war and concern about crypto currency ties, the same day Republican President Donald Trump announced $200 billion in new deals with the Gulf State. Democrats Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz and Tim Kaine, and Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, introduced resolutions of disapproval in the Senate that would block three arms sales to the UAE. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, the top Democrat on the panel's Africa subcommittee, introduced resolutions of disapproval in the House of Representatives. The senators cited concerns that have been raised about Abu Dhabi arming Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitaries in Sudan's civil war. The UAE has repeatedly denied such charges. They also cited the announcement by MGX, an investment firm backed by the Emiratis, that it would use a stablecoin launched by Trump's World Liberty Financial crypto venture for its $2 billion investment in crypto exchange Binance. A series of Trump family crypto-related ventures, including a "meme coin" launched in January, have drawn criticism from government ethics experts and political opponents over potential conflicts of interest. In a statement, Murphy said he wanted to force a full Senate debate on what he termed "nuclear grade corruption." The House members said the Trump administration had decided to move ahead with the UAE sales despite Meeks' hold on such transactions over of his concerns about the conflict in Sudan. "The Trump administration's end-run around Congress is irresponsible and will further embolden the UAE to violate the UN's Darfur arms embargo and continue its support for the RSF and the killing of innocent civilians," Meeks and Jacobs said in a statement. TRUMP EXPECTS STRONGER UAE TIES The White House and the UAE embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment. However, both Republican and Democratic U.S. administrations have long viewed the Gulf state as a vital security partner and the UAE has denied providing weapons to the RSF. Trump pledged to strengthen U.S. ties to the Gulf State as he announced the deals. "I have absolutely no doubt that the relationship will only get bigger and better," he said in a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. U.S. law requires congressional review of major arms deals, and lets members of the Senate force votes on resolutions of disapproval that would block such sales. Although the law does not let House members force such votes, resolutions must pass both chambers of Congress, and potentially survive a presidential veto, to go into effect. No block has ever succeeded and survived a veto. Among the sales targeted in the resolutions were a $1.32 billion sale of helicopters and equipment, $130 million for F-16 aircraft components and accessories, and $150 million for Apache, Black Hawk and Chinook aircraft parts, logistics and support.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US senator says US intel should not help Germany monitor far-right party
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S. Senate intelligence committee called on Wednesday for American spy agencies to "pause" intelligence sharing with Germany's domestic intelligence agency that could be used to target the far right Alternative for Germany party (AfD). "I understand that liberal elites on both sides of the Atlantic loathe the AfD, but AfD's platform has resonated with many Germans," Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote in a letter to Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump's director of National Intelligence. Germany's domestic intelligence service classified the AfD on May 2 as an "extremist" group, enabling it to step up monitoring of the country's biggest opposition party. The AfD declared the move a "blow against democracy" and has filed suit. Cotton's letter follows a series of expressions of support for the AfD from members of Trump's circle. In it he asked that, until Germany's government "treats the AfD as a legitimate opposition party," Gabbard pause sharing of intelligence that could be used to target the party and refuse requests of assistance from German intelligence that could be used to surveil the AfD. Cotton also asked for a review of whether U.S. intelligence under former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, cooperated with German requests to surveil the AfD or other opposition parties, and notify the Senate of the findings of that review. Gabbard's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The German embassy in Washington also did not immediately respond. The new German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, a conservative, has warned the U.S. to stay out of his country's politics. Members of Trump's inner circle have voiced support for the AfD. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is now also Trump's national security adviser, said Germany should reverse course on branding the AfD as "extremist." Vice President JD Vance attacked German bureaucrats for "trying to destroy" the AfD. And close Trump ally billionaire Elon Musk threw his support behind the AfD before Germany's elections and warned against banning it. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Humanitarian aid restrictions may violate US law, US Democrats say
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of U.S. senators wants Congress' watchdog agency to investigate whether controls on humanitarian aid deliveries by Israel and other foreign governments violate U.S. law, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The six senators - Chris Van Hollen, Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Peter Welch - wrote to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro asking him to launch an investigation by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office of the U.S. government's implementation of laws regarding the delivery of humanitarian assistance. All of the senators are Democrats except Sanders, an Independent who caucuses with Democrats. "In Ethiopia, Sudan, Ukraine, Burma, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Gaza, vital humanitarian assistance such as food, medical equipment, water purification systems, and other lifesaving goods have been blocked or restricted, directly and indirectly, by state and non-state actors," they said in a letter, dated Monday and seen by Reuters, referring to Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act and the Leahy Laws. The Leahy Laws prohibit the supply of U.S. assistance to any foreign security force unit implicated in gross violations of human rights, including torture and extrajudicial killing. Section 620I bars assistance for countries that impede delivery of humanitarian aid. Much recent concern has focused on Gaza. The United Nations and Palestinian representatives at the International Court of Justice have accused Israel of breaking international law by refusing to let aid into Gaza, after Israel began on March 2 to cut off all supplies to the 2.3 million residents of the Palestinian enclave. Israel has defended its blockade against aid entering Gaza, alleging that Hamas steals supplies intended for the civilian population and distributes them to its own forces, an allegation that Hamas denies. Activists have long argued that the United States disregards its own laws in sending military and other assistance abroad. Concern about civilians in Gaza has risen since Republican President Donald Trump, who is a staunch supporter of Israel, began his second term on January 20. Aid workers also have accused Sudanese paramilitaries of constraining aid deliveries in territories where it is seeking to cement its control. Rights groups sounded alarms on Monday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet approved plans for an expanded offensive against the Palestinian militant group Hamas that might include seizing the entire Gaza Strip and controlling aid. The war in Gaza followed Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli tallies, and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians according to local health authorities, and left much of Gaza in ruins. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Don Durfee and Matthew Lewis)
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US lawmakers look to boost Ukraine, sanction Russia, sources say
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation on Monday to bolster Ukraine in its war with Russia, another effort to pressure the Trump administration to back the Kyiv government, sources familiar with the effort said. Representative Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Ukraine Support Act, which would provide security and reconstruction funding for Ukraine and impose steep sanctions on Russia, according to a copy of the bill seen by Reuters. The bill, which has not yet been made public, was filed two weeks after Republicans and Democrats in the Senate introduced stiff sanctions that would be imposed on Russia if it refuses to engage in good-faith peace negotiations with Ukraine. The efforts in Congress reflect increasing concern among lawmakers from both parties about Ukraine's fate, as Republican President Donald Trump has taken a more conciliatory stance toward Moscow since starting his second term on January 20. Trump, who is trying to broker a peace agreement, has repeatedly blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the three-year-old conflict even though it began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He did so again on Monday, with a complaint about Kyiv asking for missiles. Congressional aides who helped write the House bill said their goal was to influence negotiations on any Ukraine-related legislation eventually passed by Congress. Parts of the bill were expected to appear in any final broad Ukraine package even if the measure itself cannot find a way forward in the Republican-majority House. "This bill obviously will be part of the legislative conversation," one said. The effort was given additional urgency on Sunday, when two Russian ballistic missiles hit the center of the northern Ukrainian city of Sumy as residents attended Palm Sunday church services. Kyiv said the attack killed 34 people and wounded 117, dozens of them civilians. Russia's defence ministry said it had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian commanding officers in the city. ADMINISTRATION AT ODDS? Trump administration officials have been increasingly at odds over how to settle the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Reuters has reported, with some suggesting Ukraine should cede territory to Russia and others favoring more direct support to Ukraine. The House bill is divided into three sections and would provide more support than the Ukraine legislation in the Senate. The first affirms support for Ukraine and NATO and includes measures to help Ukraine rebuild, including creating the position of a special coordinator for Ukraine reconstruction. The second provides security assistance for Kyiv, including direct loans and military financing, and the third would impose stiff sanctions and export controls on Russia, including on financial institutions, oil and mining and Russian officials. While many members of Congress from both parties have strongly supported Ukraine during the three-year conflict, many of Trump's closest Republican allies have grown cooler since his party took control of the House two years ago, and then the White House and Senate in January.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
US Senate narrowly confirms ex-CIA officer Johnson as ambassador to Mexico
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed Ronald Johnson, a former ambassador to El Salvador, as ambassador to Mexico, amid ties strained by President Donald Trump's tariff policy and speculation of U.S. military strikes to fight drug cartels. The Senate voted 49 to 46 in favor of Johnson, who was an Army Green Beret and CIA officer before serving as ambassador to El Salvador during Trump's first term. Only a majority of those present was needed to confirm him for the high-profile diplomatic post. The vote was along party lines, with every yes coming from Trump's fellow Republicans and every Democrat and independent aligned with Democrats voting no. Concern has mounted in recent months among some Mexican officials that the Trump administration may be setting the stage to take unilateral military action inside Mexico, an idea Trump floated repeatedly during his presidential campaign. Trump also has made minimizing immigration into the U.S. from Mexico a feature of his political career, including disparaging Mexicans as criminals and blaming the country for U.S. drug imports. Most recently, he has sharply increased tariffs on Mexico goods imported into the United States, part of a massive tariff program that has shaken global financial markets. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has defended her country, including saying that Mexico would categorically reject any unilateral U.S. military action within its borders. She has proposed a constitutional reform aimed at adding protections to Mexico's national sovereignty.
