Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman

News and updates from the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

It was an honor to receive the 2026 ACFR Distinguished Service Award, and especially meaningful to receive it from two young Idahoans. All that I do on the Foreign Relations Committee is expressly to serve Idaho and to protect our way of life and ideals.
https://t.co/ptwS9Nd4RV

[Jim Risch @SenatorRisch]

A historic day for Idaho and America. Today, the first nuclear reactor of its kind in nearly 50 years achieved criticality at @INL. This is just the beginning for a new era of advanced nuclear reactors that will power our future, and Idaho is leading the charge.
https://t.co/K6grojrayv

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

37 years ago, pro-democracy protests drew thousands of Chinese citizens to Tiananmen Square. These protestors risked their lives to advocate for a more democratic China and we honor the bravery of those who tragically lost their lives on this day in 1989.
https://t.co/TIIAZbUnDi

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

Great business meeting today. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is keeping up the pace to move the nominations of ambassadors and other officials as quickly as we can.
https://t.co/XytHv1MHz4

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

I'm glad the @StateDept is holding China accountable for weaponizing access to information and pressuring an American media outlet to isolate Taiwan. It’s only right that Xinhua’s "journalists" should be treated as extensions of the Chinese government, which is what they are.

[Bloomberg @business]

China took aim at the New York Times for its reporting on Taiwan, escalating a dispute that led to the expulsion of a journalist from the country https://t.co/ajjMPaojxr

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

I’m pleased to see continued sanctions targeting armed groups and their leaders operating in Eastern DRC and perpetuating the conflict there with no regard for the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity. The outbreak of Ebola in Eastern DRC highlights that the conflict and insurgency in central Africa have dire impacts for the Congolese people and the rest of the world.
https://t.co/J3e3rCrPKv

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

As the UN elects new members to the Security Council today, these countries must work with @USAmbUN to reform the UN and better share the financial burden of funding the institution. While the U.S. remains the most generous donor in peace and crisis, we won't be the world’s ATM.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

It is time for the United States to take action to address this growing problem and the systemic radicalization in UNRWA facilities. I will continue working with @USAmbUN to root out the terrorist links at the UN. 
https://t.co/m3jwFglXPs

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

It was great to hear @SecRubio speak candidly on Iran and many other issues before the Foreign Relations Committee today. There is no one more capable to handle this role than Marco.
https://t.co/Dwo4SCFZVf

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

Glad to see this important AUKUS announcement over the weekend. Advanced undersea drones, alongside our world-class submarines and securing undersea cables, are vital to deterring adversaries. Full steam ahead on the AUKUS alliance with our close allies, Australia and the United Kingdom!

[Bloomberg @business]

The Aukus alliance members — Australia, UK and the US — announced Saturday that they will develop advanced underwater drone systems and further deepen their maritime relationship that will see American submarines in Australia by next year https://t.co/fuN1yW5FrH

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

Russia’s reckless violation of Romanian airspace and disregard for civilians is unacceptable. The U.S. stands with Romania and our NATO allies against this provocative behavior. We must bolster our deterrence and make clear that we will not give up one square inch of NATO.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

It’s good to see Lebanese officials who enable Hezbollah be held accountable. The Lebanese Gov’t and the LAF need to step up and take immediate action to ensure Hezbollah is fully and permanently disarmed. The future of U.S. support depends on it.

[Tommy Pigott @statedeptspox]

The U.S. sanctioned nine individuals who enable Hizballah to undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty. We urge all of Hizbollah’s enablers, whether in politics, business, or the security services, to stop supporting a terrorist organization that has brought nothing but suffering to Lebanon.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

We condemn the violent attempts to undermine the democratically elected government in Bolivia. We urge the people of Bolivia to express themselves peacefully as their country take steps to overcome two decades of failed socialist economic policies.
https://t.co/6gP6xgzuW1

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

For far too long, cartels in Mexico have benefited from illicit financial flows from trafficking deadly drugs into the U.S. This is an important step in urging our international partners to do more to put an end to this practice.
https://t.co/VlUQ9ojViB

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

As the Administration works to bring the conflict in Ukraine to an end, China’s support for Russia makes it that much harder to do. Make no mistake—our adversaries are working together to undermine American influence.
https://t.co/HiAZsXt8Qj

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

I was glad to meet with Foreign Minister Martinez-Acha of Panama to discuss practical steps we can take to protect the Panama Canal from malign influence and better protect America's economic prosperity. Working together, there is nothing the U.S. and Panama cannot achieve.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

The world is a safer place without Hamas’ military chief & October 7th mastermind, Izz al-Din al-Haddad. He was actively working to reconstitute Hamas' military capabilities despite the U.S. brokered ceasefire.
https://t.co/eAormNVUtq

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

Congratulations to the many nominees confirmed by the Senate last night. From Slovenia to Sri Lanka, your work will be critical to protect U.S. national security. I wish you well and look forward to moving more of this Administration's nominees as quickly as possible.

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman @SenateForeign]

@StateSEAS and @SebGorka are right. If you target Americans, we will find you and you will face justice. This arrest means one less antisemite and one less terrorist on the loose. We should all be thankful for @POTUS’ commitment to keeping every American safe.

[Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun @StateSEAS]

Thank you to @StateDept, @FBI, @TheJusticeDept, @SDNYnews, @WhiteHouse, @DeptofWar, the United States Intelligence Community, and the entire interagency. I am proud that my office assisted their work to ensure Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi—accused of directing and urging others to attack U.S. interests, including by killing Americans and Jews across the globe—will face justice.

@POTUS and @SecRubio have been clear: If you target Americans or American interests, we will find you and hold you accountable. @StateDeptCT @SebGorka

https://t.co/dTF7jqrTQT

[Department of State @StateDept]

SECRETARY RUBIO on TAIWAN: From our perspective, any forced change in the status quo and the situation that’s there would be bad for both countries.