U.S. Senate confirms David Cohen as country’s new ambassador to Canada – National
The U.S. Senate has confirmed David Cohen, a tech govt who as soon as served as chief of employees to the mayor of Philadelphia, to be the following U.S. ambassador to Canada.
Cohen, a lawyer, lobbyist and fundraiser who served as a senior adviser and chief range officer at U.S. communications large Comcast, was nominated in July by U.S. President Joe Biden.
He’s no stranger to political circles: along with serving because the Comcast’s main lobbyist, Cohen spent 5 years as chief of employees to Philadelphia mayor Ed Rendell within the Nineteen Nineties.
He additionally hosted the primary fundraising occasion of Biden’s profitable 2020 presidential election marketing campaign.
Throughout his affirmation listening to in September, Cohen sang the praises of the Canada-U.S. relationship.
However he additionally recommended the Biden administration was rising impatient with Ottawa’s long-term China coverage.
“We’re all ready for Canada to launch its framework for its total China coverage,” he informed members of the Senate International Relations Committee, describing the autocratic regime’s ambitions as an “existential menace” to the U.S.
He additionally mentioned he can be concerned in discussions to “be sure that Canada’s insurance policies mirror its phrases by way of the remedy of China.”
Simply days later, the connection between the 2 nations — strained to breaking by China’s arbitrary detention of two Canadians, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, following Canada’s arrest of Huawei govt Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant — took a dramatic flip.
The U.S. Division of Justice agreed to a deferred prosecution settlement for Wanzhou, who was accused of circumventing American sanctions on Iran. Her launch from custody in Vancouver was adopted inside hours by the discharge of the 2 Canadians.
Canada has but to formally say whether or not it plans to dam Huawei gear from getting used within the nation’s ever-expanding 5G community, although all 4 of its 5 Eyes intelligence companions, together with the U.S., the U.Okay., New Zealand and Australia, have already achieved so.
© 2021 The Canadian Press