Central ND News

Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, joined a bipartisan national security congressional delegation in Egypt this week. The delegation met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides to build regional support for Israel and emphasize the importance of defeating Hamas.

“With the national security challenges around the globe, this national security CODEL was about building and strengthening alliances with key U.S. partners,” said Hoeven. “As one of the largest and most influential countries in the Middle East, Egypt needs to work closely with Israel and the U.S. to defeat Hamas, a terrorist organization that is using Gazans as human shields. The sooner Israel is able to defeat Hamas the better, so we can limit the number of casualties and stop this terrorist organization once and for all.”

Hoeven highlighted that good communication and coordination with Israel are crucial to preventing further violence. He also encouraged Egypt to play a larger role in planning for post-war governance in Gaza.

In Cyprus, Hoeven reiterated the significance of military cooperation between the U.S. and Cyprus during his meeting with President Christodoulides. He noted that Cyprus serves as an important maritime base for U.S. Armed Forces in the region.

The senators visited U.S. military personnel stationed in Larnaca, which supports the Cyprus Maritime Corridor. This base bolsters the U.S. Navy’s ability to aid Israel against Hamas. Navy SEALs have conducted drills off Cyprus's coast as a deterrent against potential adversaries.

Additionally, Hoeven reviewed efforts related to operating humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The delegation also traveled to Finland, where they met with Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. Hoeven acknowledged Finland's recent NATO membership and its significant defense spending exceeding 2.5% of its GDP.

During their journey to Egypt, the CODEL stopped at a World War II American Cemetery in Sicily-Rome to honor Memorial Day by paying respects to 7,845 American soldiers buried there, including 70 servicemembers from North Dakota who died during WWII.

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