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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Thailand’s Constitutional Court dissolved the Move Forward Party (MFP), disenfranchising millions of Thai citizens who voted for MFP candidates in the 2023 election: “The Constitutional Court’s decision to...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament, paving the way for new elections after the prime minister resigned and fled the country amid weeks of escalating protests against her leadership: “In a world where...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Representative Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) issued a joint statement condemning the Maduro regime for...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa of the Royal Thai Government to express concern for recent political developments in Thailand, including the potential dissolution of the democratically elected Move Forward Party. Chair Cardin...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of Armenia, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland,...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor to once again bring needed attention to the ongoing conflict and tragic humanitarian crisis in Sudan, calling on all parties to come to an agreement for an immediate ceasefire to usher in lifesaving...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the United States, working closely with our allies, secured the release of numerous American citizens and Russian dissidents unjustly jailed by the Kremlin. “The return of American citizens Paul Whelan, Evan...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement following the announcement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the United States will pause the majority of foreign assistance sent to Georgia. “The Biden-Harris Administration’s decision to pause most foreign assistance to...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports that a group of Russian political prisoners recently went missing from their cells. “The Kremlin’s secretive transfer of Russian political prisoners Lilia Chanysheva, Ksenia Fedeyeva, Sasha...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), issued a statement condemning Bangladeshi security forces for their use of force and violence against student protesters. The security forces involved in these horrific acts include a paramilitary unit whose leaders have...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered an opening statement at the full Committee hearing, “Strategic Competition with the People's Republic of China (PRC): Assessing U.S. Competitiveness Beyond the Indo-Pacific.” In his remarks, Chair Cardin stressed that competition with...

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) sent a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Venezuela held elections over the weekend, and expressed significant concerns with the results announced by the Maduro regime. The Carter Center, which was invited by Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE)...

WASHINGTON – This week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will convene for two full Committee hearings, one Subcommittee hearing, and one “Pen and Pad” press briefing for credentialed journalists.    MEDIA POLICY: Press seating is limited. All members of the media must RSVP to reserve a seat for public hearings, business meetings, on the...

WASHINGTON – Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint meeting of Congress, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), the Chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senate Armed Services Committee, and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to President Biden to support a deal...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement ahead of presiding over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress. “The United States' relationship with the State of Israel transcends politics and partisanship, and it...

WATCH THE CHAIR’S REMARKS HERE WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, took to the Senate floor to call for the immediate release of hostages being held in Gaza. “There is no justification for the holding of the hostages,” said Chair Cardin. “We have an opportunity to reach an agreement....

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations, along with Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Gubad Ibadoghlu’s unjust imprisonment...

***ADVISORY*** TODAY: Members of Congress to Brief Media on Bicameral Delegation to South and Central America, Meetings with Guatemala President Arévalo and Argentina President Milei ***Press Must RSVP to receive call-in details*** WASHINGTON - Today, on Tuesday, July 23, at 2:00pm ET, members of Congress, led by U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Chair...

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian high-security penal colony on false charges of espionage. “Today’s conviction of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich...