WASHINGTON—Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) released the following statement upon voting against S. J. Res. 7, the Yemen War Powers Resolution, which would end U.S. military support for the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 54 to 46.
“The U.S. currently provides limited support to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, including intelligence-sharing and advice on compliance with the laws of war. I voted against this resolution because I am concerned it would set a precedent that would negatively impact our security partnerships around the world that rely on similar U.S. support. By remaining engaged, the U.S. retains influence over the coalition’s actions in Yemen and can continue to press for an end to the conflict.
“While I have significant concerns with Saudi Arabia’s recent behavior – particularly the murder of Jamal Khashoggi – I believe that ending this support would undermine our allies and our security interests in the region by emboldening Iran, hampering counterterrorism efforts, and potentially worsening the humanitarian crisis.”