The Trump administration is taking new moves to flex its diplomatic muscle to calm escalating tensions over Russia’s effort to bully Ukraine and its annexation of Crimea.
President Trump has dispatched former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III to take a lead in the international dispute at the Vienna-based Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the diplomatic group that spans North America, Europe, and members of the former Soviet Union.
“I think what’s on the U.S. mind at this point is working hard to preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, because it’s under attack,” said Gilmore, whose ambassadorial nomination to OSCE was confirmed in the Senate May 23.
“The bottom line is that the United States really needs Europe to be a secure and peaceful place. It really isn’t. So the goal here is to try to effectuate American policy by adding our voice to peace and stability in the continent,” Gilmore said in an interview.
“I don’t see how this disruption of the Russian-American relationship is good for Russia, for the United States, or for any OSCE country.” – @usosce Amb Gilmorehttps://t.co/FfuAA80EFR pic.twitter.com/0lEPRshKO6
— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) July 16, 2019
Russian forces moved on Ukraine in 2014 and later annexed the Crimean Peninsula in a move the U.S. and Europe has not recognized. Tensions have since been escalating in Europe over Russia’s action and Gilmore said that he plans to take a leadership role to fix the issue.
“The goal here is to obviously preserve the peace and sovereignty of the people of Europe and not allow that to break down to a conflict, which could happen the way the Russians have been behaving. Of course that manifests itself in the Ukraine,” said America’s newest ambassador.
Unlike the global United Nations and the European-based NATO military alliance, Gilmore said that the 57-nation OSCE is unique in its ability to grapple with the Ukraine issue straining European and Russian relations.
“This is an organization that can give European focus on the real serious issues of war and peace that exist in Europe today,” he said.
US commends disengagement of forces at #StanytsiaLuhanska that began June 26, as forces pull out of the zone & undertake demining activities, and notes reality & cost of ongoing conflict in eastern #Ukraine. https://t.co/2jXR011dIo @SpecRepUkraine @USEmbassyKyiv @StateDept pic.twitter.com/nWa0bzfGXr
— U.S. Mission to OSCE (@usosce) July 15, 2019
Gilmore said that he will also focus on human rights, free elections, and female empowerment, a key issue for first daughter Ivanka Trump who has led an international effort to end discrimination against women, especially businesswomen.
“That has become a priority in Europe, giving women empowerment to operate both the economic and the political spheres throughout Europe. And I think that we are going to build that as an American value in the American policy in OSCE,” he said.
Gilmore, an Army veteran and former Virginia attorney general, ran for president in 2016 and eventually was a key surrogate for Trump.
Congratulations to Ambassador Jim Gilmore on his appointment as the U.S. permanent representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. We wish the Ambassador well as he helps guide #OSCE in promoting peace and prosperity in its 57 participating States. pic.twitter.com/irCzsZjWDh
— Morgan Ortagus (@statedeptspox) June 25, 2019
He is planning to raise the U.S. profile at OSCE and build support for the U.S. mission back home.
“They want me to be active, they don’t want me to be a passive person in this job, just standing around and just doing what I’m told. Instead they want me to be active and to provide as much leadership as possible,” said Gilmore.
And so far, he has found an eager audience and no evidence of anti-Trumpism or anti-Americanism.
“I’ve been a little surprised. I’m surprised because of the warmth and camaraderie that I feel for so many of the countries in the organization. I rather expected based on reports that I had seen that there was some type of anti-American resentment in the organization. I see none of that. I think that they are awfully glad that the United States is there because it relieves a ot of their anxiety and concern,” said the ambassador.
