00:00And I'll recognize this is a gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Amadei.
00:03Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to our panel for coming today.
00:08The conflict in Ukraine is the convergence of tensions not only with Russia,
00:12but also Iran, North Korea, and China as well.
00:16Now, we have an America First mandate to first protect the homeland
00:19and to use the strength to deter war.
00:21That's a mission that the Biden administration failed to achieve.
00:24Now we are divided across the Asian, European, and Middle Eastern theaters,
00:28and we face tough choices.
00:29There simply aren't enough brave young men and women, sons and daughters,
00:33to be everywhere all at once.
00:35Now, America First doesn't mean America alone.
00:38And yet, a continent divided by Chinese and Russian economic penetration cannot stand.
00:44Now, we must seize the chance to realign our NATO commitments,
00:47defense manufacturing, and our trade policies
00:48to find new ways to make Europe's economy a denied environment
00:52for those plotting harm against America and its allies.
00:55Now, my first question is to you, Secretary Thompson.
00:57Now, we're directing immense resources to onshore defense industrial base here.
01:03And as you know, all the semiconductor industry as well,
01:06President Trump has really advocated in his first term also,
01:09in his second term already.
01:11And what I'm concerned about right now is at the same time,
01:13China threatens our momentum by trying to purchase some of the most advanced machines
01:18that are coming out of the Netherlands that are capable of producing these chips.
01:21Now, how does Chinese infiltration of European supply chains threaten our security here at home?
01:27Congressman, it's a great question, and I think you bring up a very important dynamic.
01:31And this is something that we do continue to encourage our European allies to focus on,
01:35which is the economic security considerations,
01:37particularly as we look to strengthen the transatlantic industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic.
01:43This is a major consideration that would affect our ability to co-produce, co-develop, etc.,
01:47with our European allies.
01:49And we want to be able to do that.
01:50But those conditions, certainly on the front, on China, do impact our ability to do that.
01:56And so it's a consideration that we will continue to raise with them
01:59and encourage them to address so that we can develop together.
02:02Sure, but is it just conversations right now?
02:05That's all I can report on at this time.
02:08I'm sure my colleagues in acquisition and sustainment would have more to say
02:11on the tangible operational side because they deal with the technical exchanges.
02:16And so I would defer respectfully to them and their leadership and their expertise on that.
02:20Very good.
02:21I have full confidence in the Trump administration to protect our key defense industrial base
02:26as well as our chip manufacturing that feeds so much into it.
02:29And, General, thank you for your lifelong service.
02:33And I know it's going to continue afterwards, especially when you become a veteran.
02:38But I appreciate all of what you've done to our country.
02:41And my question to you is regarding Europe, is Europe doing enough to control
02:46or to help the situation contain what's going on with the Houthis in Yemen?
02:49So the EU has a mission called a SPEEDIS, which has ships in the Gulf to protect commercial shipping, sir.
03:02Obviously, the United States has felt the need to do the same alongside it.
03:08Together, it's hard for me to say if it's enough.
03:11I refer to General Carrilla, who follows that much more closely.
03:16Sure.
03:17But we also know that the Russians have been helping the Houthis as well.
03:21Is that correct?
03:22I'd like to answer that in closed session, please, sir.
03:26No worries.
03:27And how much of the Iranian, Houthi and Chinese threats to Europe,
03:33how much can that affect the United States?
03:35I guess indirectly, massively, directly.
03:46Probably, probably, we don't have that much shipping, I don't think, that comes through the Suez.
03:52However, our warships transit that all the time.
03:55So it would affect our ability to conduct military operations, for sure.
03:59I'm not sure.
04:00I'm not an economist.
04:00I couldn't comment on how big the impact would be on us economically or something.
04:05Chairman, I yield back.
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