Thank you, Chairman Inhofe, and I join you in welcoming our nominees this morning.  I want to thank you for your decades of military service and your willingness to continue to serve our nation.  I also want to welcome your families and thank them for their support.

General Wolters, if confirmed, you will face a complex security environment, arising in large part from the re-emergence of a revisionist Russia that seeks to advance its strategic interests by undermining the international order that has kept the peace in Europe for decades.  Russia is willing to use military force to coerce and intimidate its neighbors, and is actively and persistently engaged in hybrid aggression against the United States and our allies and partners, using every tool of national power to attack our democracy and to weaken our alliances.  In addition, Russia’s nuclear modernization program and its violations of arms control obligations serve to undermine strategic stability. 

The National Defense Strategy, or NDS, prioritizes the strategic competition with Russia.  EUCOM has the challenge of turning that strategy into a military posture and program in Europe that can credibly deter Russian aggression and, should deterrence fail, prevail in a military conflict.  At the EUCOM posture hearing last month, General Scaparrotti indicated that more work remains to be done to ensure a credible deterrent posture in support of the NDS.  I am interested in hearing your plans to continue that work in EUCOM. 

The transatlantic relationship with Europe remains a cornerstone of U.S. national security.  As former Secretary of Defense Mattis has emphasized, the United States’ strength is “inextricably linked” to the strength of our alliances, and we cannot effectively lead without maintaining those alliances.  As Congress has made clear, there should be no doubt about the U.S. commitment to NATO and our resolve to come to the defense of our European allies in a conflict.  I am concerned, however, that when we risk delaying or terminating critical military construction in Europe for the sake of, in my view, an unnecessary border wall, we undermine alliance cohesion and cause our European partners to question whether the United States is a reliable partner.  General Wolters, I am interested in your ideas about reassuring our partners to ensure a strong deterrent to Russian aggression. 

Numerous other security challenges are also within the EUCOM Commander’s responsibilities.  These include: continuing bilateral and multilateral efforts to counter violent extremism; assisting in the defense of Israel, including through our missile defense presence in the region; managing our security relationship with Turkey, at a time when President Erdogan’s decision to acquire the Russian S400 air defense system has triggered suspension of Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter program; and providing logistical and other support to global operations, particularly in support of U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).    

Turning to AFRICOM, implementation of the NDS will mean something very different from the EUCOM AOR.  The Administration has stated that they are seeking to prioritize “low-cost, resource-sustainable, and innovative security solutions” in Africa, and efforts are currently underway to reduce military personnel and equipment within the AOR.  At the same time, China is pursuing a strategy of robust economic engagement throughout the AOR – gaining influence and building access to key economies and infrastructure across the continent.  Russia is also building upon historic alliances in places like Libya to ensure access to the southern Mediterranean and forging new partnerships in places like the Central African Republic in order to extract resources and gain new allies.

General Townsend, I would like to hear your thoughts on how the NDS directive to counter China and Russia should be implemented in Africa, particularly how such activities should be balanced against the ongoing efforts to reduce our presence and investments in the AOR as called for in the NDS.

In Africa, the U.S. military relies on a network of partners and allies across the continent – working by, with, and through to achieve shared security goals.  In fact, AFRICOM often plays a supporting role to other U.S. and international agencies and partners in pursuit of a comprehensive approach to security challenges.  General Townsend, we would appreciate your views on how best to ensure that diplomatic and developmental efforts occur in concert with military efforts, in order to further our long-term security and stability goals in Africa.  This is particularly important given that China and Russia seem to be strengthening their hand in Africa primarily through economics and diplomacy, rather than militarily.

Thank you again to our nominees for their willingness to continue to serve.  I look forward to your testimony.