Daines Chairs Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee Hearing on the Importance of Central Asia & Black Sea for U.S. Energy Security

• September 30, 2025

U.S. SENATE - U.S. Senator Steve Daines, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today chaired a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing where he discussed the need for Europe to decrease dependence on Russia, energy security and the importance of the Black Sea.

Watch his full opening remarks HERE.

Daines: First I want to thank our three witnesses for being here today to share their expertise on such an important topic. And I just wanted to take a quick moment to thank the Ranking Member Senator Murphy, for his partnership on these issues as well as our work to repeal Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions on Central Asia. It is time to put these antiquated Soviet-era trade restrictions to bed and further strengthen U.S. relations with the region. I am very appreciative of his work on this issue and am looking forward to continuing to work with him on it.

The Black Sea holds many of the keys for European security and U.S. national interests. A clearly defined Black Sea strategy is imperative to the United States effectively countering Russian aggression in Europe and elsewhere…

…Energy security is national security. And this fact was made even more abundantly clear in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In some respects, Europe has made some positive changes, but the fact of the matter is that significant steps need to immediately be taken to protect Europe's future. Reliance on Russia for energy supply is a recipe for European acquiescence to Russian influence and aggression. The Western side of the Black Sea presents a warning for the rest of the continent. The nations who border the Black Sea face profound challenges to their national security due to unreliable energy flows and lack of baseload power. They are all taking positive steps towards rectifying this situation, and their proactive action to address their insecurity should motivate the rest of Europe and encourage them to take steps to avoid a similar outcome.

Now is the moment for practical energy solutions, which countries like Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria are pursuing. The recent peace deal in the Caucasus uncorks Central Asia's vast energy resources and creates a future wherein these resources as well as other sources of power, be it gas, oil, nuclear, hydro or others to build the reliable baseload power necessary for their economies and national security.

The eastern side of the Black Sea holds many of the solutions to problems found on the western side. Now is the moment for further engagement and for the Western world to stand together and facilitate reliable energy flows that will help ensure a bright and more secure future for the region.

Beyond energy, the eastern shore of the Black Sea promises huge opportunities for western commerce. The Caucasus and Central Asia contain large amounts of natural resources, much of which has not yet been fully utilized or even developed. Joint investment and westward trade flows will create a rising tide that truly lifts not just the countries of origin, but those along the trade route as well as Europe and the broader western world.

What happens in Europe does not stay in Europe. Two World Wars have proven that fact. The United States must lead the rest of the world in fighting back against the encroachment of our adversaries. Without U.S. leadership and a secure Europe, we may once again find ourselves fighting a war, Cold or otherwise, to protect the values of democracy and universal human freedom.

My sincere hope for this hearing is that we can openly and honestly discuss U.S. Black Sea strategy, the importance of the region for global security, and work towards truly a more cohesive, comprehensive U.S. policy towards the region. This critically important part of the world needs more attention from the United States and our allies, and I hope today serves as the beginning of that new conversation.

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Contact: Matt Lloyd, Gabby Wiggins