Foreign Policy

The Americans trying to evacuate hundreds of Afghans and American citizens — including one Afghan who worked as a U.S. military translator and says he is anticipating his beheading by the Taliban — pleaded for action from the Biden administration to get the would-be evacuees aboard charter flights that are standing by to fly them from Afghanistan. “Unfortunately we are left behind… Read more »

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to remain flexible on the date of departure for the last American troops in Afghanistan, currently planned for August 31, and to commit to bringing as many at-risk individuals to safety as possible.   “I was pleased to hear you say in your press conference on August 20th that you’re… Read more »

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11) joined Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) and 47 members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to the White House, seeking answers on the Biden Administration’s plans to evacuate U.S. citizens, Afghan allies and their families, women, NGO employees, journalists, and others from Afghanistan.  The letter states that “it is this… Read more »

By Sam Brodey, Scott Bixby, and Asawin Suebsaeng In May, Washington’s special envoy to Afghanistan appeared before lawmakers and heard their alarm about what the upcoming U.S. military withdrawal from the country would mean for the thousands of Afghans who stood against the Taliban during the 20-year war. A senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Gerry Connolly… Read more »

Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, released the following statement regarding the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. "What we are witnessing in Afghanistan is deeply concerning. As I said in May, the situation has an eerie resemblance to the end of the Vietnam war. The… Read more »

Today, Congressmen  Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Adam Kinzinger, Co-Chairs of the House Georgia Caucus, released the following joint statement on the latest political developments in the nation of Georgia: “Today’s news that Georgian Dream will walk away from the April 19th parliamentary deal sadly highlights the ongoing challenges to Georgia’s democracy. We are disappointed by this… Read more »

Today, the House passed the Global Health Security Act, bipartisan legislation offered by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. The legislation, which previously passed the House in September 2020, emphasizes the… Read more »

Today, Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) led 70 members of Congress in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to reverse the previous administration’s abandonment of bipartisan United States policy toward Israel and the Palestinians, including support for an eventual two-state solution.  In their letter, the members called on… Read more »

By Rep. Gerry Connolly In Catholicism, one commits a sin of omission when failing to do that which is required. The sin of omission hanging over the June 14 summit with NATO Heads of State and Government is a potential failure by allies to recognize the existential threat posed by the global march of autocracy, which is quickening its step by the day. The alliance stands at a critical… Read more »

Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, issued the following statement condemning the Belarusian regime’s reckless actions to force a civilian flight to land in Minsk in order to arrest journalist Roman Pratasevich.   “Yesterday’s diversion and grounding of a civilian flight between two NATO member states – by military force and upon utterly… Read more »