Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Thornberry, Hearing on Military Assessment of Russian Activities and Security Challenges in Europe

Hearing

"Last week we heard from experts on hybrid warfare, which is also known by several other names. Today we focus on one of the regions that has experienced many, if not most of the tactics we discussed.

From the 'little green men' in Ukraine, to political assassinations as recently as last week, to buying influence in political parties, snap exercises to intimidate neighbors, and of course, cyber attacks of various kinds, Europe has seen all of that and more.

Meanwhile, the Russians continue to invest in their nuclear weapons, their anti-access, area denial capability, and in a variety of other capabilities designed to reduce or eliminate any technological military advantage that the United States may have had in the past.

We know that one of their primary goals is to divide and weaken NATO, arguably the most successful military alliance ever.

Today, we are pleased to welcome NATO's Supreme Allied Commander and Commander of U.S. European Command, General Curtis Scaparrotti, not for the first time, but the first time in this capacity."

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