Hudson Applauds Trump Leadership on INF Treaty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08), a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, released the following statement after sending a letter to President Donald Trump voicing his strong support for the president’s recent leadership regarding the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and Russian aggression:

To read the letter, led by Rep. Liz Cheney (WY-AL) and signed by a total of 41 members, click here.

Earlier this week, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said, “The intelligence community assesses Russia has flight tested, produced and deployed cruise missiles with a range capability that are prohibited by the treaty. Russia has shown no sign that it is willing to acknowledge its violation, let alone return to full and verifiable compliance.”

Rep. Hudson has continued to be a strong and vocal critic of Russia, condemning Moscow’s aggression and supporting increased pressure and sanctions. At an international gathering of parliamentarians in Berlin, Germany, Rep. Hudson represented the United States and put forward an amendment to express concerns about the ramifications of the construction of the Nord Stream II pipeline and possible increases in economic and political instability in the across Europe.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 57 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.

As a member of the Helsinki Commission, Congressman Hudson regularly represents the United States at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA), which facilitates inter-parliamentary dialogue among the participating States. He currently serves as a vice-chair of the OSCE PA Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism. He also co-chairs the Transatlantic Parliamentary Group, a transatlantic caucus that includes members of the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament and aims to assess international security threats, economic crises, and social issues. Through his leadership with the Commission, Commissioner Hudson is committed to combatting religious persecution and anti-Semitism, preventing human trafficking, tackling terrorism and promoting economic cooperation and free speech.