1 week Ago
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed George Glass, a veteran diplomat and businessman, as America's next ambassador to Japan, approving his nomination by a 66-32 vote. The Oregon native previously served as ambassador to Portugal from 2017 to 2021 during President Donald Trump's first term. At his confirmation hearing in March, Glass told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Japan should expand its defense spending, including support for U.
S. troops and military bases. He described the U.
S.-Japan alliance as being at an "all-time high" in terms of economic and military cooperation. Twelve Democrats joined Republicans in supporting Glass' nomination.
Oregon's two Democratic senators, Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, did not vote in favor. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.
H., voted in favor of Glass' appointment. At the confirmation hearing, she asked Glass to reconcile his outlook on Japan with Trump's, who reportedly told reporters, "we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us.
" Glass replied that the two responses reflected the strength of the countries' partnership. Shaheen was joined by her New Hampshire colleague, Maggie Hassan, and Sens. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, of Virginia, and Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, of Rhode Island, among other Democrats.
No Republicans opposed the nomination, although Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., did not vote, according to the Senate homepage.
U.S. Embassy Tokyo acknowledged questions about Glass' arrival on Wednesday but did not immediately respond.
A State Department biography describes Glass as a businessman with experience in finance, investment banking and technology. He was an adviser to Reltio, a data management company in Redwood Shores, Calif., and a partner in MGG LLC, a developer of apartment complexes and rental homes.
He also worked in Portland, Ore., in investment banking, according to his biography. Glass earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon, where he later served as a trustee.
He was also a trustee of the Oregon Health Sciences University. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC..
