If confirmed, Elbridge Colby would play a key function in advising the secretary of protection and form U.S. nationwide safety insurance policies.
WASHINGTON—Some Republicans should want convincing earlier than they comply with assist President Donald Trump’s nominee for a key Pentagon technique put up.
Elbridge Colby is about to look earlier than the Senate Armed Providers Committee on March 4, because the Senate considers his nomination to function the under-secretary of protection for coverage.
If confirmed, Colby would function the principal protection coverage adviser for the secretary of protection and would assist form U.S. nationwide safety insurance policies.
Colby’s nomination has appeared to separate elected Republicans and conservative commentators.
Kirk accused Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) of attempting to undermine Trump by opposing Colby’s Senate affirmation.
Sitting for a podcast interview with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on Feb. 18, Cotton stated one in every of his prime priorities is to make sure Iran doesn’t acquire nuclear weapons.
Cotton stated he and Trump are aligned of their opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran.
The Arkansas senator, who serves on the Senate Armed Providers Committee and chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, stated his precedence with any nominee for a nationwide safety place is to make sure nominees are equally aligned in these views.
“I look ahead to talking to [Colby] about, you realize, what he’s written about Iran previously, what he thinks now, how he sees that becoming in with President Trump’s declared precedence of stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons,” Cotton stated.
Because the podcast look, Cotton has not stated whether or not he has met with Colby or cleared up any considerations about Colby’s views on Iran.
Throughout a podcast look with Fox Information Radio’s Will Cain, Cotton talked about “different points” he wish to discover with Colby.
Up to now, the Arkansas Republican and Colby have supplied divergent views on the Russia-Ukraine struggle and the North Atlantic Treaty Group (NATO).
Cotton declined a request for remark from The Epoch Instances on March 3.
Colby’s Overseas Coverage Views
Trump already has some rapport with Colby, who joined his first administration.
From 2017 to 2018, Colby served because the deputy assistant secretary of protection for technique and pressure improvement on the Pentagon.
Throughout his time on the Pentagon, Colby helped craft the Trump administration’s 2017 Nationwide Safety Technique and the Protection Division’s 2018 Nationwide Protection Technique.
Outdoors of presidency, Colby has supplied nationwide safety coverage commentary and evaluation for quite a lot of suppose tanks and information publications.
“America needs to be prepared to offer potent materials and political assist to Israel. However on the similar time, Israel ought to perceive that the USA, which can not afford to be enmeshed in one other Center Japanese struggle, will take a supporting function,” Colby wrote.
Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility in a satellite tv for pc picture on April 7, 2021. Planet Labs Inc. through AP
“Containment is definitely not the very best final result—efficiently stopping Iranian acquisition is. But when the one means to do this is to embark on a in all probability futile try to militarily suppress Iran’s nuclear program, or, God forbid, invade Iran, the laborious work of containment presents a least dangerous choice,” he wrote on the time.
After Kirk raised alarm about Colby’s nomination final month, political commentator Park MacDougald took to X, arguing that Trump’s nominee “is a type of bipartisan institution sort whose roots are within the Obama Democratic Get together.”
MacDougald famous Colby labored for the Middle For A New American Safety (CNAS) suppose tank each earlier than and after his Trump administration tenure.
MacDougald forged CNAS as former President Barack Obama’s “favourite suppose tank,” and claimed Colby supported Jeb Bush’s 2016 Republican presidential marketing campaign.
Vice President JD Vance rose to Colby’s protection following MacDougald’s critiques.
“He constructed a relationship with CNAS when it was one of many few establishments that might even rent a overseas coverage realist.”
Donald Trump Jr. has additionally joined in backing his father’s nominee.
“However simply the identical Colby can also be with my father in eager to keep away from a big Center East struggle if in any respect potential,” Trump Jr. wrote.
“Like my father, he isn’t a fanatic, on the lookout for a struggle; he’s sensible, robust, however on the lookout for a non-military resolution if potential.”
The place Republican Lawmakers Line Up
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), who beforehand served on the Senate Armed Providers Committee, lately advised The Epoch Instances he stands behind Colby’s nomination.
As for the place his fellow Republicans stand, Hawley was unsure.
“I’m going to vote for [Colby] enthusiastically, however I simply, I don’t know. I’m not on that committee anymore, so I don’t have a superb sense of the place the vote tally is there,” Hawley stated.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Protection Secretary, Pete Hegseth, testifies earlier than the Senate Armed Providers Committee in Washington on Jan. 14, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Instances
Cotton’s views on Colby may additionally sway different Republican senators who’ve but to determine the place they stand.
When requested about Colby’s nomination final week, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) advised The Epoch Instances, “I’m going to discuss to Sen. Cotton about that and see what he thinks, and I am going to get again with you.”
When reached for remark final week, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) famous some Republican senators have raised considerations about a few of Trump’s different nominees earlier than coming round to again the president’s picks.
Mullin predicted the identical sample would maintain for Colby’s nomination.
“We’ve been in a position to work previous each one these points,” the Oklahoma Republican stated.