Nowhere is the full range of United States interests better advanced than through our European partnership. I know our European friends have expressed concern about the international priorities of the United States. It is true - the Middle East, Persian Gulf, Taiwan Straits and Latin America present considerable challenges for the new Administration. The creation of this very Subcommittee should send a clear and important signal to our allies and friends across the Atlantic that in the Congress, Europe remains our highest priority. I would also dispute those who say there is a growing estrangement between this country and Europe that seriously threatens this important partnership.
All relationships have their rough moments and the trans-Atlantic alliance is no different.
Certainly, our policy interests and objectives may not always be in perfect harmony with those of our European friends. Nevertheless, I believe political and security cooperation between the United States and the European Union is solid and will remain strong. A strong, peaceful, democratic and integrated Europe is clearly what the United States desires. We do support continued E.U. expansion, but on Europe s timetable, not ours. We support NATO enlargement as long as decisions are based on security reasons, not political ones.