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WASHINGTON – Former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, on Monday vowed there would be a “smooth” and “seamless” transition to President-elect Joe Biden’s administration, even as President Donald Trump continues to fight the election result.
The Republican’s comments, delivered at a virtual news conference in Brussels, put her at odds with many of her GOP counterparts -- including Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz -- who’ve mostly refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory.
“We are going to work in a transition for a new administration coming in,” she said ahead of a NATO ministerial meeting. “We are going to make sure it’s smooth. That’s what we have in democracies, and that’s what we are going to produce.”
Hutchison’s comments are particularly noteworthy, given that Trump is still her boss and that most administration officials have followed his lead in casting doubt on the November election.
The Texan was unequivocal about what would happen come January, when Biden is sworn in as the next president. She repeatedly referred to the Democrat as the president-elect and made assurances that she would do her part to assist in the transition from one administration to the next.
Hutchison even vouched for Biden, noting that she served in the U.S. Senate with him for many years.
“President-elect Biden is certainly pro-NATO,” she said. “I know he is very much a multi-lateral organization supporter. We like to have allies. He likes to have allies. That is ongoing from this administration to the next administration.”
The former senator also predicted that Biden’s “first trip to Europe will be to NATO.”
“Because he is such a supporter of the trans-Atlantic bond, and also that’s a tradition that American presidents have followed,” she said. “There will be a seamless transition in support of our trans-Atlantic bond, and NATO and the United States – there will not be a difference.”
She added: “America is very committed to NATO.”
Hutchison didn’t comment on some of Biden’s foreign policy picks for his Cabinet. The incoming president, for instance, has announced his plans to nominate Anthony Blinken, a former deputy secretary of state, to serve as his top diplomat.
But Hutchison said the Biden administration, on various issues, would “need to determine what the policy is, as it stands” and “what the options would be going forward.” She cited as an example the Trump administration’s decision to relocate thousands of troops out of Germany.
“Options are left open for the incoming administration in January,” she said. “The way that this has been put forward does leave the decisions for the next administration to determine what is in their best interests and in the interests of the United States, of course.”
Hutchison’s job as U.S. envoy to NATO has always been a delicate duty.
Trump has long criticized the alliance, formally known as the North American Treaty Organization, by arguing that America’s counterparts – including wealthy allies like Germany – haven’t been paying their fair share of the defense costs.
The Texan said she’s “very proud of the many accomplishments that we’ve made” over her more-than-three years in the post, including on the issue of “burden sharing.”
“Our allies have been asked to step up and do more in defense spending,” she said. “And they are doing just that.”
Hutchison also hailed the Trump administration’s work in addressing the Chinese threat on everything from the so-called “belt and road initiative” to the rival’s buildup in the South China Sea.
“We have made a great stride in recognizing what China is doing in the last few years and bringing that to the forefront,” she said. “Those are things that we have to look at and determine what we are going to do to ensure that nothing ever encroaches on our trans-Atlantic bond.”
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November 30, 2020 at 11:29PM
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Former Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Trump's NATO ambassador, pledges 'smooth' transition to Biden administration - The Dallas Morning News
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