▶ 0:22:54>> good afternoon, thank you for joining us. This hearing is called to order. Today's hearing focuses on china's dominance of maritime security in africa and the importance of strengthening the U.S.-africa partnership. I intend for this subcommittee to serve as the primary forum for shaping and articulating the policies of the united states toward africa.
▶ 0:23:20I believe that fundamentally china is a global threat that must be confronted region by region, territory by territory, and nation by nation. The challenges posed by china and africa are vast, but there's also an immense opportunity for the united states and american businesses to flourish. In addition to africa's natural resources, china seeks total control and dominance of africa's rare earth minerals. Its land and its maritime force.
▶ 0:23:53The chinese communist party is executing a deliberate, methodical strategy to expand its footprint across africa. Economically, politically, and militarily. With the ultimate goal of undermining the united states and projecting power into some of the most strategic regions of the world. Nowhere is that strategy more apparent or dangerous than in the maritime domain.
▶ 0:24:21It means control over global commerce and strategic leverage over the united states. Africa's coastlines sit at the crossroads of global arteries. Beijing intends to dominate them. We've already seen what that looks like. Since 2017, china has operated a military base in djibouti, mere miles down the road from ours.
▶ 0:24:48Beijing is actively negotiating military axis agreements up and down the horn of africa. Their goal is clear, secure a naval presence at the gateway to the red sea, one of the most critical shipping corridors in the world. As our adversaries test us with attacks on international shipping and direct threats to our own facilities, such as the houthi threats to U.S.
▶ 0:25:09Forces in djibouti, failing to respond with strength sends one message, that america is not willing to defend its interest or its allies. That sentiment only encourages beijing and every other hostile actors keep pushing. Today's hearing focuses specifically on maritime security in africa and the implications for U.S. commercial diplomacy. The security of africa's waters has a direct bearing on the security of the united states.
▶ 0:25:42The continents atlantic coast connects to our homeland through the same routes that carry our energy supplies, commerce, and transnational criminal flows. On the other side of the continent, the red sea in the western indian ocean form the western flank of the indo pacific. Where china seeks to expand its naval reach. If we overlook africa's maritime vulnerabilities, we leave open pathways adversaries can exploit against us.
▶ 0:26:12The she suit -- this issue is not theoretical, it addresses acute, present, and real threat to global commerce and security. China's influence and africa's maritime ports also directly impact american workers. Our economic stability and national security. China's aggressive pursuit of military port in west africa would represent a major threat to U.S. security.
▶ 0:26:41The chinese naval facility on the atlantic would allow beijing to operate warships, including submarines opposite our east coast. It would also fundamentally put american cities, shipping, and undersea infrastructure at risk. China's malign behavior on the seas already harms african nations and the united states.
▶ 0:27:04Illegal, unreported, unregulated fishing by chinese vessels devastates economies, fuels corruption, and drives instability. It also undermines legitimate U.S. commercial engagement, engagement that should be building prosperity and trust with our african partners, not seating the field to the ccp. Third, the maritime domain is increasingly a battleground for hybrid warfare.
▶ 0:27:31Including piracy, criminal networks, human trafficking routes, narco trafficking routes, sabotage, interference with undersea cables, and course of economic practices. China is exploiting all of these avenues. Not just one, all of them. The united states should modernize and adequately fund the tools to counter the ccp maritime expansion. Defend freedom of navigation and protect american commercial interests.
▶ 0:28:03Let me be clear, we will block any attempt by the ccp to take advantage of our african partners or the united states. In previous hearings I've emphasized the importance of the united states being the preferred partner for african nations. We offer transparency, economic growth, the rule of law, and respect for sovereignty while china pursues exploitation across every domain. The ccp intends to displace the united states globally.
▶ 0:28:34And africa is a critical medium of that ambition. Maritime domain is one of their many campuses. Thank you and I look forward to their testimonies. I recognize ranking member booker. >> I want to thank senator cruz for working together to hold this hearing. I appreciate him and his focus on these issues. I want to think the witnesses for being here.
▶ 0:29:02Really important jobs, it is much appreciated for what I think is a vital conversation. In previous hearings we heard a lot about how the trump administration is saying they are prioritizing commercial diplomacy in africa. As a result, the hearing will examine what they are doing to africa's maritime domain which directly connects us to the U.S. economic trade and security interests.
▶ 0:29:3538 of africa's 54 countries are either coastal or island states. 38 of the 54. Sub-saharan africa has two major coastlines, one along the atlantic ocean, the other along the indian ocean. We need to take a look at africa at its maritime domain as part of the transatlantic space and the indo pacific and the global security in and of itself.
▶ 0:30:05This is a frustration I have what I hear the administration talking about the transatlantic or indo pacific policy. I really hear conversations about africa. The continent also includes coastlines across -- across the red sea, the gulf of eden, critical to U.S. security interests and the global economy. One third of the world's shipping passes through africa's maritime checkpoints.
▶ 0:30:31And 25% of global trade flows through the red sea, the gulf of eden, and to the western indian ocean. We cannot ignore the challenges and africa's coastal waters. Not only do these challenges rob the region of economic progress, triggering often instability, food security, sovereignty, stability, they also affect U.S.
▶ 0:30:58Businesses and security interests on top of the increasing costs americans pay for goods. The safety of our U.S. citizens abroad in competition with china and russia and a host of other reasons means we should be far more focused on these issues we will be discussing today. Here are some of the challenges I would like to zone in on.
▶ 0:31:25Houthis forced global shipping companies to force ross away from the sea, 6000 nautical miles to a journey around south africa. Insurance premiums for shipping have surged, raising the cost for goods and consumers here in the united states and across the globe. In addition, piracy has spiked again off the coast of somalia and continues in the gulf of guinea.
▶ 0:31:49I would like to hear from you all about how the department is working across agencies and with coastal african countries to increase the security of these shipping lanes. As my colleague has mentioned, china's a really big competitor trying to fill the vacuum america seems to be creating through its retreat from the continent of africa.
▶ 0:32:13China's first foreign military base in africa was in djibouti, near a critical shipping chokepoint. And only four miles away from the U.S. strategic base in djibouti. Prc state owned firms controlled or hold stakes in about 60 to 70 ports across the african continent. With suspected interest in making dual use ports with potential military applications.
▶ 0:32:43This should be frightening, or staggering, to americans concerned about our global interests. The previous africom commander has testified stating a p.r.c. Base on africa's atlantic coast would alter the whole calculus of geostrategic global campaign plans for U.S. homeland protection. He later called for U.S.
▶ 0:33:09Leadership to counter china's efforts in west africa, which are significant. On the other hand, russia has been in negotiations as we have seen across the news with the sudanese military government for a number of years to establish a naval base in port sudan on the red sea.
▶ 0:33:29Today I would like to hear from you about what the department is doing to counter china's naval basing aspirations in africa and how we are working to become a partner of choice to african countries looking to improve or establish port infrastructure. Africa is also the continent from which the highest share of human trafficking flows originate.
▶ 0:33:55Coastal african countries are sources, transit points, -- subjected to forced and sex trafficking. After the trump administration's irresponsible decision to terminate a majority of U.S. born assistance programs, I would like to hear what the state department plan is, what they will do to prevent this gross test level of human trafficking.
▶ 0:34:24Illegal fishing dramatically reduces the catch of local fisheries, diminishing the short -- sources of livelihoods for regions. A lot of this instability we are seeing in some west african nations have some solid roots to the overfishing done by many chinese vessels in west african fisheries. Some estimates place annual losses to african coastal states due to illegal fishing to $3.3 billion.
▶ 0:34:53China maintains the largest distance water fishing fleet with hundreds of vessels illegally fishing off of the coast of west africa to devastating effects on the countries that are on that coast. I would like to hear from you have the department is working to combat illegal fishing and support blue economies along the coast of africa. This is vital not just to african interest, but security interests in the region and U.S. economic interests.
▶ 0:35:22These crosscutting issues don't fit neatly into any one bureau or office of the state department and involve multiple U.S. departments and agencies from state to dod to the U.S. coast guard and developing agencies like the millennium challenge corporation and development finance corporation. The U.S. must have interagency strategies and tools to address the challenges related to africa's maritime security.
▶ 0:35:51With a focus on commercial diplomacy at the state department, I would have expected a plan, a strategy, set of processes put forward to address these issues, these growing crises, these growing threats that further the administration process stated goals that align with what the administration says with the growing challenges we see because of this administration's withdrawal from its investments and strategic partnerships on the continent.
▶ 0:36:22There is no strategy I have seen. The administration has terminated and defunded many of the bipartisan tools my colleagues, including my former colleague, the secretary of state, have endorsed. For years I worked on this committee with partners that understand the growing strength, the growing population, demands from us a U.S. effective strategy.
▶ 0:36:49It is very sad and tragic to see the administration offering none and yet pulling away from a continent that desperately needs american strength. Unfortunately it is creating a vacuum being filled by the chinese on the russians. While the trump administration is failing to nominate the secretary for african affairs, which is stunning, it allows positions across africa to remain vacant.
▶ 0:37:13We have offered as democrats to do everything we can to fast track if they will nominate people from many of these positions. Then the reductions in force among state department employees , the shutdowns of usaid, terminating a majority of U.S.
▶ 0:37:30Foreign assistance to africa that drastically reduces our tools, collective expertise, and have made ground for china, russia, and other malign actors to swoop in and undermine not just stability of the continent today, but to undermine the stability in the future. This is a hearing I think is vital and I'm appreciative of my colleague, ted cruz.
▶ 0:37:58The subcommittee since donald trump, this is the first hearing since he has shown through his leadership vile and insulting language of entire countries in africa. I remember when I traveled to africa in his first term when he referred to many countries in africa as -- countries.
▶ 0:38:23I had heads of state, peers and ambassadors, show me such discussed and distress that the leader of the united states of america referred to this countries in this manner. I want to take this opportunity now in donald trump's second term where he continues that kind of rhetoric, to strongly condemn the president's hurtful, xenophobic, and frankly anti-american comments about somaliawe know that somali refud
▶ 0:38:59Somali americans are people in this nation that have provided such strength and value to who we are. I know somali americans. Like every american. So many of the ethnic groups that make the fabric of our nation, they have shown such strength and contributions to our nation, stronger and better.
▶ 0:39:20It is unconscionable to be -- to me, unimaginable the president would keep such a vile, hurtful, demeaning rhetoric about any group of americans, especially consequences it has in our relations with those countries of origin. This is an important hearing.
▶ 0:39:38But I tell you my experiences have been in the past, that hopefully we cannot just talk about these issues, but join together to work to make sure the state department has the kind of strategies we need to advance american interests, american partnerships, and strength growth between the U.S. and africa relations. With that, I'm grateful. >> thank you. I would like to introduce our three witnesses for today.
▶ 0:40:09The first witness is marco sylvester, deputy assistant secretary for transportation affairs. I would be remiss if I did not give a shout out to your wife, sarah, who spent several years as a scheduling director running my life. >> which one is -- is she here? -- you are here. Fantastic. >> she was hiding behind you. I will give the shout out myself. >> that can't be an easy job to have been in your schedule.
▶ 0:40:38>> let me know afterwards if he does a good job or not. Our second witness is miss megan dority, deputy assistant secretary for the office of africa in the middle east and the office of international negotiations and the bureau of international narcotics and law enforcement. Our third witness is Dr.
▶ 0:40:59Ruth perry, secretary and deputy assistant secretary for ocean, fisheries, and polar affairs, international environmental and scientific affairs.
▶ 0:41:13She's also a fellow texan and graduate of texas a&m and I for one and predicting a national championship of a and m versus texas tech and I'm looking forward to wearing a switzerland shirt while cheering them both on. With that, I will recognize Mr. sylvester for your opening statement.
▶ 0:41:41Mr. Sylvester: Thank you, senator, chairman cruz, ranking member booker, thank you for the opportunity to discuss maritime challenges in africa today. Africa's maritime domain is vital to global commerce, energy, and food security. Under secretary rubio leadership, the state department is committed to protecting U.S.
▶ 0:42:08Mr. Sylvester: Interests by enhancing maritime domain awareness, supporting american economic interests, and countering malign influence in this critical region. As both of you mentioned in your testimony, our adversaries increasingly target strategic african ports, seeking military and commercial advantages.
▶ 0:42:31Mr. Sylvester: These nations promote state owned and affiliated companies, including un-trusted port technologies, allowing them to access sensitive information and the ability to disrupt foreign trade. Such influence undermines host nation sovereignty over their infrastructure and fosters corruption. For the united states, this creates economic and national security risks.
▶ 0:42:58Mr. Sylvester: President trump's unprecedented success in rebalancing our trade relationships globally and secretary rubio's emphasis on enhancing U.S. business abroad how open new opportunities across africa through diplomatic engagement and targeted programs, the department advocates for transparent governance and exposes predatory lending. These actions reduce our adversaries influence in the transportation sector.
▶ 0:43:28Mr. Sylvester: Our economic bureau and the department's economic officers on the ground in africa are identifying commercial opportunities and facilitating connections for U.S. firms while supporting fair trade. The department's 2026 port of prosperity partnership will connect U.S. and african ports to share best practices, improve security, and foster innovation.
▶ 0:43:56Mr. Sylvester: In the red sea, and the surrounding sea lanes, attacks enabled by iranian support have endangered innocent seafarers, disrupted trade, and threatened regional stability. President, through the historic gaza peace plan, is increasing shipping lane security to the benefit of american consumers and american security. Mr. chairman, the trump administration is committed to growing trade with africa.
▶ 0:44:27Mr. Sylvester: A stable, secure maritime sector essential to this goal. We support regional cooperation and african led solutions that uphold freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and global prosperity. By increasing our engagement and commercial diplomacy with african nations, we helped secure vital maritime routes, foster american prosperity, and safeguard our national security.
▶ 0:44:57Mr. Sylvester: Thank you and I look forward to your questions. >> thank you. >> chairman cruz, ranking member booker, distinguished members of the subcommittee. Thank you for this opportunity to address maritime security challenges in africa. The state department bureau of national narcotics and law enforcement affairs conference illicit maritime activity that threatens freedom of navigation and endangers U.S. interests.
▶ 0:45:31Mr. Sylvester: Transnational criminal organizations are tco seals which exploit gaps in maritime law enforcement across africa to smuggle drugs and illegally extracted natural resources. In the western indian ocean and along the east coast, law enforcement data shows a 150% increase in methamphetamine seizures just in the past year. That includes some seizures conducted with assistance. In southern and eastern africa, U.S.
▶ 0:45:58Mr. Sylvester: Law enforcement is seeing evidence of mexican cartels and exploiting maritime routes and regulatory gaps to traffic synthetic drugs. And with host country counterparts, law enforcement identified eight large-scale cartel linked methamphetamine labs. In the west, the gulf of guinea remains a hotspot for illicit activity. Foreign industrial fleets, including many linked to china, drive alarming levels of unreported and unregulated fishing.
▶ 0:46:29Mr. Sylvester: This deepens economic instability, leaving coastal populations vulnerable to recruitment by rick -- criminal and terrorist organizations. Russia and china are more than willing to violate african sovereignty in pursuit of military and commercial footholds. Although china is more engaged than russia in the maritime space. China is active in nearly every african country and establishes first overseas people's liberation army as was mentioned.
▶ 0:46:59Mr. Sylvester: In 2023, a project identified links between fishing vessels that were escorted by the pla naval escort task force from that base with china's maritime built in root initiative with projects across west africa. China is involved in over a quarter of all african ports and we are aware chinese officials have discussed the possibility of a maritime facility and may be pursuing opportunities in the region.
▶ 0:47:28Mr. Sylvester: This activity creates corruption risk and reduces opportunities for U.S. trade and investment. I and l is improving maritime enforcement and port security, countering transnational crime and strengthening the rule of law to enable U.S. commercial activity. They provide direct maritime law enforcement and port security equipment and training working with other U.S. agencies to help countries confront activities that threaten shipping lanes and U.S. businesses and provide revenue to tco's and terrorists.
▶ 0:48:00Mr. Sylvester: Our programs address complex crimes and support information sharing and tracking and targeting technology as well as effective prosecution. These efforts are paying dividends. Just last month, law enforcement officials who were trained intercepted 433 kilos of cocaine. Port security is a critical element of maritime security.
▶ 0:48:24Mr. Sylvester: An effective cargo screening and verification aids efforts to combat smuggling and reduces vulnerability to exploitation by malign chinese factors. To counter chinese interference with U.S. trade interests, I and l works with the U.S. coast guard and customs and border protection to improve border security and cyber security infrastructure in west africa. I and l is procuring maritime vessels in providing training to counter fishing and other maritime activities.
▶ 0:48:55Mr. Sylvester: I and l is also facilitating information sharing between the gulf of guinea nations and latin america partners to address the transcontinental trafficking by western hemisphere-based fto's. A recent operation that included work between cabo verde, portugal, and brazil resulted in an antsy interdiction of approximately one ton of cocaine transiting the gulf of guinea.
▶ 0:49:21Mr. Sylvester: With the committee process support, I and l intends to continue strengthening maritime security and countering criminal actors in support of U.S. trade and investment. Secure maritime routes in africa are essential to reliable movement of U.S. commerce. Thank you for your attention and leadership on these threats to maritime security which impact the united states. And I welcome your questions. Thank you. >> Dr. perry, you are recognized for your opening statement.
▶ 0:49:52Mr. Sylvester: >> chairman cruz, ranking member booker, senator shaheen, the distinguished member of this committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today about the impact of maritime challenges in africa on the U.S. fishing industry and how the department of state will take action to protect the livelihoods of our fishermen.
▶ 0:50:12Mr. Sylvester: As a proud texan and longtime steward of the gulf of america, I know firsthand the threat of unreported and unregulated fishing on our economy, environment and national security. Vital to food systems and energy infrastructure. Foreign vessels like those from mexico deplete iconic species like red snapper and undermine efforts to maintain sustainable fisheries.
▶ 0:50:44Mr. Sylvester: This is not just an environmental issue, it is about sovereignty and economic security. Under the leadership of the bureau of oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs, we convened an emergency interagency task force with the department of justice and the coast guard. For the first time individuals cut illegally fishing are being prosecuted under the lacey act. As deputy assistant secretary of oes, I'm committed to building this momentum.
▶ 0:51:12Mr. Sylvester: The stakes are too high and we must decisively act to protect our fish, fishermen, and america's working coast. Fishing off of africa's coast is not just a local problem. It threatens U.S. fishermen, our industry, and national security. U.S. commercial and recreational fishing generate nearly half $1 trillion annually and supports 2.5 million jobs.
▶ 0:51:38Mr. Sylvester: We built the world's most respected fisheries management system science-based strongly enforced and proven to ensure long-term species health. But our companies face unfair competition from nations that ignore catch limits, food safety, and labor laws. All practices driving prices artificially low. The state department is committed to confronting this challenge head on, protecting america's jobs, on the integrity of our seafood supply.
▶ 0:52:09Mr. Sylvester: Over the years, U.S. market share for american seafood producers has steadily fallen. More than 80% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. Data suggests imports have fallen this year, but fish and fish products coming into the U.S. from africa are still valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Fishing and african waters not only distorts global markets and creates unfair competition, for U.S.
▶ 0:52:38Mr. Sylvester: Seafood producers, it directly undermines the livelihood of the american commercial and recreational fishermen. Highly migratory species of tuna and billfish range across the atlantic ocean, illegal and unsustainable harvests off of africa can mean fewer of these keystone fish return to our waters.
▶ 0:53:00Mr. Sylvester: That damage is just part of what sources say are $10 billion in annual losses africa suffers from fishing, driven both by domestic fleets and distant water fleets primarily from china. But the consequences go far beyond economics. This illegal activity is increasingly tied to transnational crime, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and maritime and security, posing a direct threat to regional stability and ultimately american security.
▶ 0:53:32Mr. Sylvester: Advancing and defending the U.S. fishing industry is an administration priority. President trump's april executive order on restoring american seafood competitiveness calls for a whole of government approach to promote the productive harvest of our seafood resources, combat iuu fishing, and protect seafood markets from unfair trade practices. The department of state works with the department of commerce and other agencies to ensure that american fishing industry competes on a level playing field.
▶ 0:54:03Mr. Sylvester: Together, we push other members of regional fisheries management organizations to adopt binding fishing rules for shared stocks that are in line with our high domestic standards based on available science and backed by effective fisheries monitoring and control. Where foreign nations break the rules or refused to step up, the state department works with our interagency partners to ban their vessels from U.S. ports and close our markets to their products.
▶ 0:54:34Mr. Sylvester: A unified interagency response is not just important, it is essential. Combating iuu fishing and its associated criminal networks requires effectively coordinated and efficiently deployed U.S. capabilities. This is why the state department, noaa, and coast guard lead a whole of government effort to combat iuu fishing under the maritime security and fisheries enforcement act, or the maritime safe act since 2019. To protect U.S.
▶ 0:55:02Mr. Sylvester: Fishermen in our markets, we provided technology, training, and equipment, participated in enforcement actions, and created frameworks for lasting regional cooperation throughout africa. For example, ghana now uses american-made smart nasa system to increase its maritime domain awareness, setting the stage for increased cooperation with its neighbors. These achievements are something to be proud of.
▶ 0:55:29Mr. Sylvester: But the danger to the american fishing industry from iuu fishing in african waters persists. Progress is moving too slowly. To protect our fishing industry, we must ensure american producers stay competitive worldwide and that our economy is strengthened and the industry is preserved for future generations. That means securing access to healthy fish docks and guarding against threats of bad actors and a responsible nations.
▶ 0:55:57Mr. Sylvester: The department of state is building a refined approach that is faster, more targeted, and more agile to combat the dynamic threat posed to the american industry by illegal, unsustainable, and unfair fishing practices in africa. The state department is closing the gap between america's high standards and the exploited of practices of fleets in african waters. The U.S.
▶ 0:56:22Mr. Sylvester: Fishing industry sets the global benchmark for sustainability with thriving stocks to prove it. But protecting this success requires coordinated action, diplomatic enforcement and scientific. We will punish bad actors, hold partners accountable, put american fishermen first, and defend our waters, economy, and way of life. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all today. >> thank you to each of the witnesses.
▶ 0:56:51Mr. Sylvester: As I mentioned, china's actively exploiting maritime access across africa to undermine U.S. interests and position the self as the dominant power in the region. Beijing is securing port access, building dual use infrastructure, expanding illegal fishing fleets, and leverage that for a foothold. It is a slow and deliberate remaking of maritime power in china's favor.
▶ 0:57:21Mr. Sylvester: This first question is to all three witnesses. Walk us through specifically how the chinese are exploiting african maritime access, and what would chinese dominance of key chokepoints mean for global shipping, energy access, trade flows, and security of allies who rely on those routes? >> thank you, senator further question.
▶ 0:57:46Mr. Sylvester: I think it is extremely important to look at the african continent, but also chinese influence in maritime globally. I would start up stream of what you mentioned, and look at the maritime space as a whole. China controls 95% of the container manufacturing for cargo globally. They control 60% of the shipbuilding globally. They have one of the largest shipping lines in the world as a state owned enterprise.
▶ 0:58:14Mr. Sylvester: In order to counter this, president trump signed the restoring america's maritime dominance executive order in april that prescribed different steps for re-industrializing and rebuilding american ship building capacity. I would start there because with those supply chain advantages, china can not only direct where ships go, but also refuse to actually send ships to american aligned ports, not just
▶ 0:58:45Mr. Sylvester: Encourage investment in chinese aligned ports. The second thing I would mention is the predatory lending schemes across the continent. China many times will undercut U.S. bids with upfront cash that have many strings attached and exploit the host countries to ensure permanent control over those strategic locations.
▶ 0:59:08Mr. Sylvester: The third thing I would say is to the dual use point that they have shown the willingness to militarize investments either nearby or at the ports themselves. >> thank you, senator.
▶ 0:59:27Mr. Sylvester: I would start with coastal west africa where we see a very intense chinese effort to build ports, training facilities, or different surveillance operations when we saw that happening. We decided to try and reach out to the government to make the U.S.
▶ 0:59:51Mr. Sylvester: The partner of choice and talk about what we could do for them and their own responsibilities how to make them stronger and more self-sufficient. We are working on a million-dollar port security program and giving $4 million worth of fast boats for them to increase patrolling of the waters around that area.
▶ 1:00:14Mr. Sylvester: We have seen a lot of unknown vessels flagged, we are working with them to strengthen their flag recognition and limitations to prevent chinese or others from using their flags for illegal vessels. We are looking at the opportunity for satellite information to do better tracking of unknown or suspicious vessels in that region.
▶ 1:00:44Mr. Sylvester: We are doing a lot of training regionally as well through interpol, and others to get those countries to work together to share information and arrest and prosecute those who are related to chinese illegal fishing.
▶ 1:01:02Mr. Sylvester: To your point there are already, and I think you mentioned early on, the impacts of iuuf are seen where they are turning to a narco tracking -- trafficking to pick up dead drops and drugs that will go on to europe, increased immigration as well. Immigration from senegal to the U.S.
▶ 1:01:30Mr. Sylvester: Has increased over the last several years. We believe part of that is the impact to livelihoods. There are a lot of immediate impacts. The longer-term impact looking at the bigger picture, we are seeing in the pacific or china is offering to service the navy for islands that don't have their own navy or coast guard sent we will do it for you, that is something we are also
▶ 1:02:01Mr. Sylvester: Watching in coastal west africa as a potential threat. >> thank you for the question. As you heard from my colleagues, covered much of the land and portside and how it disrupts maritime flows. Let me reinforce the impact through your question. China's fleet has tens of thousands of vessels in africa and $3.8 billion in total annual cash.
▶ 1:02:32Mr. Sylvester: This kind of scale combined with state subsidies and weak enforcement allows china to not only exploit those fisheries resources at all levels of the ecosystem and create ecocide through their fishing practices but also takes away hundreds of thousands of artisanal fisheries jobs from west africa and other african nations.
▶ 1:03:00Mr. Sylvester: Chinese trawlers are backed by state subsidies and dominate and outcompete the fisheries as I've mentioned. Weak regulations and limited enforcement allow for illegal practices such as fishing in prohibitive zones and using destructive year. The socioeconomic impacts are severe. Chinese industrial fishing fleets have contributed a significant overfishing and habitat destruction in west african waters.
▶ 1:03:30Mr. Sylvester: What are we doing to combat that? I mentioned the safe act, I'm the newest co-chair alongside my colleagues, which brings together 21 federal agencies to develop and implement strategies for priority regions. Iuu fishing, including africa but also the pacific, is a priority for the secretary and the deputy secretary at the department of state.
▶ 1:03:55Mr. Sylvester: We are combining a statewide approach to close the gap china has created. There are also good practices. You heard it is a combination of monitoring, surveillance, and enforcement. Our work with ghana has made significant progress in many of these areas.
▶ 1:04:15Mr. Sylvester: I will not recapture the monitoring and surveillance you heard, but we've also been able to work with partners through our diplomacy to improve legal structures so that when we monitor and detect illegal fishing and particularly chinese interests, that these countries can actually enforce and respond and take the threat away.
▶ 1:04:39Mr. Sylvester: In addition to the increased technology, maritime domain awareness, we are working on legal structures and training so that the enforcement can actually prove results. Thank you. >> ranking member booker. >> I will defer to my chairwoman. >> thank you very much. Senator booker, chairman cruz. Before I get to the questions, I would like to address two issues.
▶ 1:05:09Mr. Sylvester: Those that apply to africa and are important to this subcommittee. On yesterday's violence in the democratic republic of congo, news reports indicate rwanda backed m 23 rebels seized a key town in the east. This is a major escalation and it comes days after president trump hosted the rwandan and congolese presidents to tout a plan for peace and prosperity. Videos show civilians fleeing gunfire and reports of refugees streaming over the border.
▶ 1:05:41Mr. Sylvester: This is exactly what the agreement was meant to prevent. It would appear that the rwandan government gave president trump promises that the government was not willing to deliver on. Senator risch and I put out a statement on peace signing, and what we said in our statement was the U.S. would act if the parties don't uphold their commitments.
▶ 1:06:04Mr. Sylvester: I look forward to working with members of the subcommittee to take those necessary steps and encourage the administration to uphold the commitments that were made. I want to reiterate the importance of U.S. support for the somali government, the somali people, and american community. Senator booker addressed the comments the president made earlier eight in his comments.
▶ 1:06:30Mr. Sylvester: But at a moment when cooperation with somalia is essential to counter privacy and strength and security off of its coast, it is important to reaffirm that partnership. Our policy should be grounded in facts and the strength of our alliances. Not in comments that undercut communities critical to that work. Mr. sylvester, thank you. Thank you to all of our witnesses for being here.
▶ 1:06:58Mr. Sylvester: In november, we introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure a whole of government strategy on subsea cables for the department of state to ensure that you have the requisite expertise you need to lead international coordination on the subject. You may know, Mr. sylvester, that new hampshire is home to subcom, one of the world's biggest developers of undersea cables.
▶ 1:07:23Mr. Sylvester: Talk about the role the state department can play in supporting american companies like subcom as they work to compete against the p.r.c. Firms and win bids to lay cables across the world that help protect those cables. >> absolutely. Thank you for the question. I've met with subcom personally and was impressed with the breadth of what they do and the history behind the company.
▶ 1:07:52Mr. Sylvester: Appreciate that shout out from them. What we are doing on the topic of subsea cables is twofold. Number one, trying to ensure that countries go with trusted vendors for subsea cables rather than the chinese alternatives. A couple of programs that went specifically to that. In the east asia pacific bureau, a program called the cables program.
▶ 1:08:17Mr. Sylvester: When it started, there was an 18% market share for what is called hmm tech in the region, and eap. After a few years, the market share is down to 7%. That program was just an educational program about the data security risks of going with an trusted subsea cable vendors. And we already saw tremendous results to the point where cyberspace and digital policy bureau is taking that program global.
▶ 1:08:49Mr. Sylvester: So that is one thing encouraging that education. The second is continuing diplomacy to encourage partners to adopt the new york principles. This was an agreement on not just education, but also building out a resilient system. While some cuts or some damage to subsea cables may be inevitable because of ships sinking or accidental anchor drags, these principles encourage countries to sign on to building a resilient system.
▶ 1:09:21Mr. Sylvester: So there aren't those chokepoints where one cut can be catastrophic to the global and digital economy. Those will be two examples. As far as the risks, or we have seen chinese dominance in the south china sea, there have been incidents where there is interference with the maintenance and repair of subsea cables.
▶ 1:09:46Mr. Sylvester: And we are concerned if that influence were to spread to a place like africa or the gulf of guinea, where there are a lot of connections to land, similar incidents could occur. Certainly a top priority for the department. >> thank you. I applaud the government of finland for the work they have done to address russian deliberately cutting undersea cables.
▶ 1:10:11Mr. Sylvester: I think we need to encourage more companies to take that action. Thank you, Mr. chairman. >> thank you, ranking member booker. >> can I go back to an area I don't know as much about as my colleague, but I'm familiar with some of the undersea cable activity. For example, from tanzania to zanzibar. An extra ordinary project within infrastructure investment that helped with rolling blackouts and other problems.
▶ 1:10:42Mr. Sylvester: Critical infrastructure being built. My concern is I know it was an mcc project. With our pulling back of resources hurting companies, but also the kind of alliances that make our infrastructure investments in africa competitive with all china seems to be offering.
▶ 1:11:04Mr. Sylvester: Do you have a perspective on the value of what has been a bipartisan program and the value it plays and things like the laying of these cables and the critical infrastructure china is rushing into africa to provide. >> thank you senator for the question on the important topic. The mcc is still looking forward with compacts. There is a re-examination of a number of them. But it certainly is not ruled out going forward.
▶ 1:11:35Mr. Sylvester: I would say on investment with subsea cables specifically, 70% of the investment towards subsea cable infrastructure is by U.S. technology, hyper-skill or companies, google and meta, billions of dollars in africa. The vast majority even those that don't seem economical now.
▶ 1:12:05Mr. Sylvester: What are cyberspace and digital policy bureau has done is invested in some of those connections from the outer coast to make those landings. Those are things still going on, certainly a priority. >> trust me, it is grateful for me -- I am expanding my knowledge on this issue in particular.
▶ 1:12:31Mr. Sylvester: Clearly, the mcc has an impactful role, a program that has been supported in a bipartisan manner. I know you said there have been no necessarily new compacts or polling were -- from that, but you can testify to the value of the program. >> senator, my understanding is -- the compacts themselves are valuable, yes?
▶ 1:12:59Mr. Sylvester: >> I would say that the mcc itself when they moved forward with projects that the administration secretary rubio -- >> did ted cut your mic? >> I think I ran out of time.
▶ 1:13:23Mr. Sylvester: The projects the mcc pursues new projects and compacts that are preserved, they are preserved because they have value. >> let me continue. Again, this is not my area of expertise.
▶ 1:13:36Mr. Sylvester: I was surprised in one of my visits to west africa how both american companies like google came to me as well as some of the partners of the african countries that american desire was there, the intention was there, but some of the corruption specifically in those countries and people in the state department were saying to me we are doing a lot of work helping these nations battled corruption to make it a better environment.
▶ 1:14:03Mr. Sylvester: But some of those programs that help with democracy seem to have been pulled back. If you can comment to meet the needs of business interest meeting the state department work on anticorruption efforts, especially the west african countries where often present great business opportunities but undermine things like the laying of these cables. >> thank you senator for that question.
▶ 1:14:30Mr. Sylvester: I think a lot of that work on market reforms and structuring some of those bids and concessions go through the department of commerce, commercial advocacy program -- >> I know a lot of the sources but the resources are being cut back. Correct?
▶ 1:14:52Mr. Sylvester: On foreign aid, resources towards africa, with the administration -- what the administration has done is really rethought how to make sure american tax dollars go as far as they can and how they are well spent.
▶ 1:15:07Mr. Sylvester: For example, secretary rubio signing with the kenyan president the $6 billion health aid package, during those remarks, he said rather than enriching ngo's in northern virginia, the intention is to ensure governments can scale up in capacity.
▶ 1:15:28Sen. Booker: Ms, -- Ms. nardi, in your written testimony, you mentioned inl is providing direct maritime law enforcement training and building partnerships in the region. Even when I was a mayor, the federal government, we put new were for lease -- you were police governments with federal agents. I'd love to see that in the international level.
▶ 1:15:56Sen. Booker: It is a force multiplier in many ways and I am grateful this is a tradition in our country. But I am concerned about the cuts here as well. The tribes administration wants to cut -- trump administration wants to cut by 80% to 90%.
▶ 1:16:16Sen. Booker: For example, the fy 26 budget included drastic cuts to nil program funding proposing a cut of $1.16 billion to the international narcotics control and law enforcement programs account. Living $125 million remaining -- leaving $125 remaining.
▶ 1:16:38Sen. Booker: I am concerned about your ability, the agency's ability to continue these mentoring programs doing such vital work as you have testified, dramatic cuts of 80% to 90% really undermine our effectiveness in this kind of interdiction and work as well, but it is also a force multiplier.
▶ 1:17:05Ms. Nardi: Thank you for the question and the support for this kind of programming. We are seeing good results in the counter narcotics area. Thank you for that. The approach that we have in africa is regional for the most part because if china or a tco finds a vulnerability in one country, they will go there, but if not they will move onto the next one and the .
▶ 1:17:27Ms. Nardi: Part of the problem we have seen is within the country itself, they don't talk to their neighboring countries as well. The majority of our programs are regional in nature.
▶ 1:17:41Ms. Nardi: West africa, we have the africa -- west africa security initiative and the east africa organized crime. What we did was create two centers of excellence, one in djibouti and one in the seychelles to do training on muscle boarding and investigations and exchange of information.
▶ 1:18:11Ms. Nardi: We have also gotten the countries to work together with our regional maritime intel fusion center in madagascar so they exchange information. If a ship is coming down that looks like it is suspicious, but it is in somebody else's waters, you can let them know it is coming and hopefully they take action. The fact that we do these things regionally means we are not investing a lot of money in each of --
▶ 1:18:37Sen. Booker: I agree. I am way over time. I am treading on my friend. American leadership and american coast guard, military, I have seen the expert -- the greatness of our country in practice. You are describing that to us. I am just worried about its ability to sustain those levels. Increase them as the challenges grow greater. And again this body has supported the resources. I would hate to see them cut in the way the proposed budget is.
▶ 1:19:06Sen. Booker: The consequences of that for not just the regional security you are describing for american interests would be dramatic. Thank you.
▶ 1:19:15Chairman Cruz: Thank you. I'm going to do a couple more questions and we will give senator booker an opportunity for additional questions as well. Somali land is a critical U.S. maritime security partner in africa. It sits along the gulf of aden near one of the world's's busiest shipping corridors and its forces actively contribute to counterterrorism and antipiracy measures.
▶ 1:19:38Chairman Cruz: Somali land sense with our allies including israel in a region where china is aggressively expanding. They have offered the U.S. military basing agreement and a critical minerals partnership. They're willing to work with us to counter china's malign influence and terrorist networks. This is the kind of partner we should be encouraging and one that will shape how we confront maritime security challenges across the continent.
▶ 1:20:05Chairman Cruz: Earlier this year, I sent a letter to president trump ordering federal recognition of somaliland. Unsurprisingly the chinese communist party immediately condemned that letter which underscores how important it is to U.S. national security. What tools and partnerships the bureau of international narcotics and enforcement employed to help the U.S.
▶ 1:20:31Chairman Cruz: Deepen cooperation with somaliland to advance our common maritime security and law enforcement interests, especially against threats facing the horn of africa?
▶ 1:20:46Ranking Member Shaheen: Thank you for that question --
▶ 1:20:48Ms. Nardi: Thank you for that question. Inl does not have active programming in somaliland. Our focus on the horn of africa is maritime security. This center of excellence we will establish will cover that region and a little bit further south. We have worked with somalia in the past and djibouti on maritime vessel boarding and investigations but those programs are coming to an end.
▶ 1:21:18Ms. Nardi: We certainly can review capabilities. We would begin any program with an assessment of needs and work in close cooperation with the africa bureau and state department to determine their priorities for somaliland. Thank you.
▶ 1:21:32Chairman Cruz: Thank you. Mr. sylvester, senator booker asked about undersea cables, they are the arteries of the modern global economy. Africa's linked to the world through 77 cable networks that power its digital markets, support millions of jobs and drive trade and innovation. But these cables are exposed to vulnerability.
▶ 1:21:57Chairman Cruz: Just last year, cable cuts left parts of that jerry offline at a cost of 600 million dollars in just four days -- nigeria offline at a cost of $600 million in just 40's. -- four days. There are less than 100 cable repair ships across the world. Of which only three of those service africa and one is home ported in africa.
▶ 1:22:23Chairman Cruz: Our adversaries understand if you can control or disrupt digital infrastructure, you can hold economies hostage. That's why maritime security is not just about protecting freedom of navigation and open commerce, but also protecting the cables beneath the seafloor that nations depend on. Strong, secure and open digital links mean stronger trade ties, resilient supply chains and a continent less vulnerable to beijing's chokehold. What roles should U.S.
▶ 1:22:52Chairman Cruz: Maritime cooperation play in helping african nations diversify cable routes, protect high-risk shallow water zones, and improve rapid response capabilities especially considering only one cable repair should is comported on the entire african coast? -- home ported on the entire african coast?
▶ 1:23:18Mr. Sylvester: Thank you for highlighting this important issue. I would go back to building a cable system globally which includes of course around the continent of africa. When we see these cable cuts for example, there was an incident in the red sea following a ho thi -- houthi attack where the traffic was installed. -- was stalled. Resilience really is a key.
▶ 1:23:50Mr. Sylvester: We have a leading company here in the united states and we as the state department are focused on promoting those U.S. companies as viable and trusted vendors across africa. While there are a limited number of these ships, the U.S. has a good alternative to offering the commercial space. And the third is again educating the host countries that either have landings or want to put the investment in to have those cable landings.
▶ 1:24:17Mr. Sylvester: That front -- on that front, we have to ensure they know the data security risks and malign influence it would be exposed to if they were to go with an un-trusted vendor.
▶ 1:24:28Chairman Cruz: Thank you. Senator van hollen. >> I'm going to ask the senator to indulge me. I have to run. If you could take over checking the great senator from texas to make sure he doesn't talk about me or stanford football when I leave. >> I will do that. >> thank you very much. >> I am -- >> do they have a football team?
▶ 1:24:48Chairman Cruz: [laughter] >> let the record show that I have asked the senate leadership to rule 19 you for that first one. >> thank you, Mr. chairman, and all of you for your testimony. I want to pick up on a point and I heard the ranking member make earlierand some of my colleagues' statements.
▶ 1:25:21Chairman Cruz: It is just the latest attack on a minority community and our country. If you look at the state senate, it says e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. What donald trump is doing is just the opposite end it is despicable here at home. And he has also malign the countries of origin of so many of our communities here in the united states.
▶ 1:25:46Chairman Cruz: I have to say is we talk about africa, it is difficult to do so without noting our extreme disappointment in the president of the united states. I want to talk about a particular country in africa the president continues to malign and that is south africa. Mr. sylvester, south africa is one of the continent's biggest economies, in the top three, is that right?
▶ 1:26:13Chairman Cruz: And it does play an important role in maritime security in the southern africa region. Is that right? Of course, the cape sea, it also plays an important role in policing and antipiracy efforts in the mozambique channel. Is that right?
▶ 1:26:38Mr. Sylvester: I would defer to my colleague on the law enforcement side but my understanding is it is an important maritime nation in general. >> so, an important country in africa both from an economic point of view and a political point of view, in maritime security point of view -- a maritime security point of view, yet the trump administration has decided to target south africa.
▶ 1:27:05Mr. Sylvester: We know that despite the fact that is a g 20 member, the president says they can't come to the g 20 meeting of the united states. We know the united states decided not to go to south africa for the g 20 meeting that was hosted by south africa. We have heard the president make of this completely false accusation south africa is engaged in a genocide.
▶ 1:27:34Mr. Sylvester: And of course when it comes to our immigration policies and refugee policies, the administration has put a worldwide cap of about 7500 on it overall. The great majority would be white south africaners. I ask you, what is south africa doing to warrant these kinds of unfounded attacks?
▶ 1:27:57Mr. Sylvester: My understanding of the scope of the hearing is on maritime security. I am not sure. I am not sure am equipped to address the question as you have asked. What I would say is with respect to south africa, president trump has shown willingness to work with any country to advance american interests and our embassies on the ground are still pursuing commercial opportunities for U.S. companies across the continent.
▶ 1:28:26Mr. Sylvester: >> does not sound to me like the president's really interested in engaging south africa even to advance our own interests. If that were the case, he would not set about attacking them without reason. I am asking you because you are one of the political appointees at the state department. And all we have seen is a series of attacks on south africa.
▶ 1:28:54Mr. Sylvester: And the south african government has options. They can partner with others around the world. Obviously they have relationships with russia, china, they are part of bric. But why would we gratuitously attack them? Based on what appears to be this trumped up allegation that they are engaged in a genocide against white south africans, that's not true, is it?
▶ 1:29:25Mr. Sylvester: They are engaged in a genocide.
▶ 1:29:26Mr. Sylvester: I'm not familiar with the issue that you are raising. I've been tracking that closely. While I am a political appointee at the state department, I cover transportation issues so aviation and maritime. I would be happy to address any questions you have on those issues in particular. >> I appreciate that.
▶ 1:29:44Mr. Sylvester: I just think others here recognize when you are dealing with a country like south africa , the third-biggest economy on the continent, where we have shared interests, it does not really help our cause to advance those interests if we are gratuitously attacking this particular country. And it is just a mystery to me how the president got trapped in this story that he keeps telling himself about south africa.
▶ 1:30:18Mr. Sylvester: I hope, although realistically, it may not be realistic that the administration will change course and seek cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Thank you, Mr. chair.
▶ 1:30:30Chairman Cruz: Thank you. I want to thank all the witnesses for their important testimony today. The senators will have until the close of business on thursdays december 11 submit questions for the record. This concludes today's hearing. The committee stands adjourned. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap.org]