Daines in Senate Foreign Relations Committee: Confirm Chris Anderson as U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today spoke in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, where urged his colleagues to swiftly confirm Christopher Anderson, President Trump’s nominee to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia. Anderson has served on Daines’ staff for more than four years. Watch Daines’ full remarks HERE . Daines’ opening remarks: Today I have the honor of introducing Christopher Anderson, President Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to Cambodia. He hails from Barron, Wisconsin, a small town with a population of 3,000, where he tells me that there are more turkeys than people. And Chris is a lot of things. He is the husband to Jen, sitting right behind him, and father of Charlotte, the 13-month-old beautiful little girl in that beautiful dress. But he’s also my national security advisor on my team. He has served in my office for over four years, where he’s led on all things related to foreign policy, defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, export control, sanctions, and veterans’ affairs. Chris’s long career in national security began in February 2009, when following graduation from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a degree in economics, he decided to enlist in the Army. He was deployed to Afghanistan, where he conducted route clearance and led men in combat environment. Following his service in uniform, Chris moved to Washington, D.C., where he got his first job here in the Senate, working for my colleague and his home state, Senator Ron Johnson. After two years with Senator Johnson, Chris moved over to Senator Bill Cassidy’s military legislative assistant, where he worked for three years. Upon President Trump’s election in 2017, Chris once again answered the call to serve and took a job as senior advisor to the secretary of VA, where he was responsible for the department’s relationship with Congress. Chris then pursued a master’s degree in project management from Penn State University. I said this specifically for the chairman’s benefit prior to joining my team. I know the chairman now understands you’re an intelligent man going to Penn State. Chris has extensive experience dealing with foreign governments, negotiating agreements, advancing legislation, and managing personnel. He’s been one of my most trusted advisors during a tumultuous period in world history, providing steady, insightful advice that has informed much of the work I have done, including here on this committee. He’s traveled extensively across the Indo-Pacific, understands the core issues facing U.S. interests in the region. He sits before us today as an Army veteran. a seasoned foreign relations expert who has a decade of experience working with foreign governments, a committed professional who has spent the last 17 years working in the front lines of U.S. national security. Chris embodies truly the best of American public service, answering the call time and time again, who will serve in this position with honor, with integrity, and determination. His vast experience and dogged commitment to American interests make him uniquely qualified to serve in this ambassador post. I spent a number of hours with Secretary Rubio on Monday as we were traveling from Montana back to Washington, D.C.. I spoke about Chris to the secretary, and he specifically said the important role that he will play in Cambodia, a very strategic part of our geography at the moment with a lot of needs for the right kind of leader there on the ground. I’m certain our country will be safer, more secure, and more prosperous with him in Cambodia. And we’re going to miss having him in my office. But I know my team is incredibly proud as I am and excited about Chris’s next chapter. Daines on U.S. relations in Southeast Asia: Daines: Mr. Anderson, because of the Trump administration and ASEAN’s collaboration last year, we saw a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia that stopped a bloody border clash. You alluded to that in your testimony. Looking at the future, how do you see regional partnerships and forums as a platform for closer U.S. relations and regional stability across Southeast Asia? Anderson: Thank you for that question, Senator, and thank you for the kind introduction. I think that’s a great question that honestly not only the U.S. but also our regional allies in the area are asking. Obviously, ASEAN is a significant regional partner, and I look forward to working with Ambassador Kim to really advance those priorities. Daines on U.S.-Cambodia security cooperations: Daines: Mr. Anderson, how do you foresee the future of U.S.-Cambodia security cooperation? Anderson: Thank you, sir. And I can’t emphasize that this is, again, a question that our allies, specifically Five Eyes countries, are asking about the region… I think the first part of answering your question is engagement, how to lean forward into conversations with the government, and then looking forward at how to pursue those partnerships in an incremental, measured way as we match it with productivity on increasing the U.S. bilateral ties seeing things move forward together, not just pushing an investment and then hoping for change on the back end. Daines on U.S. investments in Cambodia: Daines: U.S. investment in Cambodia, frankly, has been limited, especially when compared to its neighbors in Vietnam and Thailand. Economic ties have been so important, such a part of driving U.S. relations in Southeast Asia, but really we haven’t quite found major success yet where you’re headed. If confirmed to Cambodia, Mr. Anderson, can you talk a little bit about why the investment climate in Cambodia has historically been difficult, as well as how you would work to bring more U.S. business investment into the country? Anderson: Yes, thank you, sir. Top priorities for me, if confirmed, would be scam centers, economic and security cooperation, and regional frameworks. ### Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins