Luxembourg is a beautiful place with people who understand and appreciate freedom and democracy, said the next US ambassador to the grand duchy. Georgia attorney Randy Evans gave testimony at a hearing on his nomination of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 1 November. He said that the Luxembourg people have “an unbelievable resiliency to overcome whatever history may throw at them.”
We are much like them
Evans, who first learned he was being considered for the post in late May, was officially nominated by president Trump in September. In a statement made to the committee hearing, he said that he was grateful to Trump and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson for “the opportunity to answer my calling and to serve our country.”
Evans hinted that he will attempt to persuade Luxembourg to increase its financial contribution to NATO, which he says is not as much as the alliance agreement requires. "I’ve made a pretty decent living out of getting more money out of people than they wanted to [give],” he said in answer to a committee question on the subject. However, the nominee also had plenty of positives to say about the grand duchy. For instance, he compared Luxembourgers to Americans.
“It is a unique mixture of citizens who are proud of their heritage but embrace their connections to so many other countries and peoples from around the world. In that way, they are much like us Americans or, in fairness, we are much like them--it really doesn't make a difference.”
Luxembourg as thought leader
Evans also showed a keen awareness of Luxembourg’s place in the geo-political world.
“Anyone experienced in international affairs knows that Luxembourg is so much bigger than the number of its square miles or its citizens. Luxembourg's influence, its leadership and its impact extends well beyond Europe to the entire world. It is a thought leader and economic engine capable of and doing great things--especially in technology and space.”
Remarking on the grand duchy’s central role in Europe, Evans said that Luxembourg, in cooperation with the US, could help tackle various issues and challenges such as the refugee problem, levelling the playing field for American companies doing business around the world, climate change, containing the threat of global terrorism, stabilizing the flow of capital to avoid financial crises and the “myriad of issues flowing from the United Kingdom's decision in the Brexit vote to leave the European Union.”
Evans compared Luxembourg’s position as a gateway to the European Union to Singapore’s, which has a similar role as the doorway to Asia. “We must take advantage of such a unique ally with such great influence to work toward solving, rather than debating the problems confronting the 21st century world,” he said.
“I am eager to get started,” he concluded. If, as expected, he is confirmed by the senate, Evans will probably take up his post before the end of the year. The previous ambassador, David McKean, left the post in January on the day that Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States.