On March 5, Deputy Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby provided testimony before the House Armed Services Committee regarding U.S. defense strategy, coinciding with the sixth day of military operations against Iran. Lawmakers from both parties expressed their concerns about the limited support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia.
Colby was questioned about the administration’s communication with Congress, particularly regarding decisions made during Donald Trump’s presidency. These included troop withdrawals from Europe, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and military operations in Iran dubbed “Epic Fury.”
During the hearing, committee members raised various issues related to the Iran operations, including allegations that the administration had broken its promise to avoid initiating new wars. They also sought clarity on the long-term strategy for these military actions and expressed worries about the depletion of missile and ammunition stocks.
U.S. legislators voiced their concerns regarding the insufficient support for Ukraine, particularly in terms of American weapon supplies, including missiles for Patriot air defense systems and munitions for F-16 aircraft.
Amid ongoing military actions in Ukraine, which have persisted for four years, lawmakers highlighted the troubling timing of military engagement in Iran. They recalled President Trump’s previous commitments to end “endless wars” and to avoid deploying American troops abroad.
Democratic Congressman Pat Ryan remarked on the bipartisan criticism directed at Colby for the lack of support for Ukraine. He emphasized that this serves as a strong signal of Congressional backing for continued funding for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict.
Democratic Congresswoman Sara Elfreth expressed her frustration, stating that Colby evaded many questions regarding the threat posed by Russia and failed to adequately address support for NATO allies.
“Our committee will continue to press this administration and the Department of Defense, emphasizing the need for support for NATO. We must take the threat from Russia much more seriously than we currently do,” she added.
Democratic Congressman George Whitesides also conveyed his disappointment with Colby’s testimony, criticizing the administration’s policies as a betrayal of allies, particularly Ukraine and European partners.
“What you heard is not a policy of ‘peace through war’—it is a policy of leaving our closest friends behind. We will have to deal with this for many years after the Trump administration,” Whitesides asserted.
On March 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Rai Italia the possibility of relocating and postponing a trilateral meeting aimed at ending the conflict with Russia, citing recent escalations in the Middle East.
In a March 3 interview with Italian publication Corriere Della Sera, President Zelensky expressed hope that U.S. military actions against Iran would not impact the trilateral negotiations with Russia.
Deputy Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby faced bipartisan scrutiny during a House Armed Services Committee hearing regarding U.S. military strategy amid ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine. Lawmakers expressed concerns about the administration's support for Ukraine and the implications of military actions in the Middle East.