Senator Benjamin L. Cardin - U.S. Senator for Maryland
Agriculture Economy Education Environment & Energy Foreign Relations
Health Care Homeland Security & Terrorism Immigration Iraq & Afghanistan Judiciary
Military & Veterans Seniors Small Business Transportation FAQ
Foreign Affairs

The United States faces a range of international challenges including threats to our security, economy, environment, and commitment to basic human rights. With a new President who is dedicated to rebuilding America's position in the world, we also have tremendous opportunities to establish new partnerships and strengthen old ones in an evolving world.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am committed to bringing a responsible end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in a manner that ensures America's security and protects the brave men and women serving overseas. I am also committed to promoting peace in the Middle East, supporting fundamental human rights, and addressing humanitarian and refugee crises in Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, and other locations around the globe.

As Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), I have a leading role in the search for common security in Europe and Central Asia. The bipartisan Commission, comprised of nine Senators, nine Representatives and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce, looks for ways that the U.S. and its partners advance comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries.

I also support efforts to...

  • Achieve a comprehensive Middle East peace that protects Israel's right to exist and the security of its citizens. I support the vision of two states - one Israeli and one Palestinian - living side by side in peace and security.


  • Create an enforceable free and fair trade policy that raises human rights, environmental, and labor standards around the world while ensuring American workers can compete on a level playing field.


  • Prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. I have joined more than 60 of my Senate colleagues in co-sponsoring The Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act to give President Obama the tools he needs to prevent the current Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.


  • Combat the problem of human trafficking. I was proud to speak at the release of the State Department's 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report on June 16.


  • Improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations. I have cosponsored The Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act to provide robust non-military assistance to the Pakistani people and The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act to provide assistance to populations affected by the LRA in Uganda, Congo, Sudan, and the Central African Republic.


  • Combat anti-Semitism. I introduced S. Con. Res. 23 supporting the goals and objectives of the Prague Conference on Holocaust Era Assets and am the lead cosponsor of S. Con. Res. 11 condemning all forms of anti-Semitism.

Click here for frequently asked questions in Foreign Relations


Hot topics in foreign relations

Iranian Elections
Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Senator Cardin speaks on the Iranian elections and their aftermath.

More foreign relations videos...



» E-Newsletter: Iranian Elections

Skip paging links
Foreign Policy Press

1-30 of 82  1  2  3 Next
Date Title
11/16/2009 CARDIN APPLAUDS OBAMA HUMAN RIGHTS REMARKS IN ASIA, URGES DIRECT MESSAGE TO CHINESE LEADERS
11/10/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE NOMINATION OF DR. RAJIV SHAH TO BE USAID ADMINISTRATOR
11/10/2009 DODD-DURBIN-CARDIN RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN USAID PASSES SENATE
11/06/2009 CARDIN HAILS ITC DECISION SUPPORTING MARYLAND PAPER MANUFACTURING AGAINST CHINESE AND INDONESIAN IMPORTS
11/06/2009 SENATE RESOLUTION ON YEMEN
10/22/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON FUTURE OF NATO IN THE BALKANS
10/19/2009 CARDIN WELCOMES RENEWED COMMITMENT TO PEACE IN SUDAN
10/14/2009 CARDIN AMONG FIRST TO MEET WITH NEW GREEK PRIME MINISTER
10/13/2009 DODD, DURBIN, CARDIN INTRODUCE RESOLUTION TO STRENGTHEN USAID
10/09/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT OBAMA BEING AWARDED THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE
10/02/2009 CARDIN CALLS FOR IRANIAN ACTION, NOT PROMISES
09/30/2009 INCREASING TRANSPARENCY IN THE EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES
09/30/2009 CARDIN CALLS FOR INCREASED TRANSPARENCY IN OIL, GAS AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES
09/25/2009 CARDIN SAYS SECRET NUCLEAR FACILITY IS A WAKE-UP CALL FOR THOSE WHO DOUBTED IRANIAN INTENTIONS
09/23/2009 CARDIN, LUGAR INTRODUCE ENERGY TRANSPARENCY BILL TO FIGHT CORRUPTION AND PROMOTE STABILITY
09/18/2009 CARDIN SKEPTICAL OF IRANIAN INTENTIONS, DISGUSTED BY AHMADINEJAD'S RHETORIC
09/18/2009 SENATOR CARDIN TOURS AMERICAN RED CROSS' HOLOCAUST & WAR VICTIMS TRACING CENTER ON EVE OF ROSH HASHANAH
09/10/2009 CARDIN EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR U.S. DRAWDOWN, CONCERN OVER IRAQ-SYRIA RIFT
08/05/2009 CARDIN WELCOMES RELEASE OF DETAINED AMERICAN JOURNALISTS IN NORTH KOREA
07/29/2009 CARDIN CALLS FOR INCREASED SUPPORT FOR DISPLACED PERSONS IN PAKISTAN TO HELP STABILIZE THIS NUCLEAR NATION
07/28/2009 CARDIN CALLS FOR A NEW APPROACH TO U.S. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR NATIONAL SECURITY GOALS
07/28/2009 CARDIN PRAISES US-CHINA DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CALLS LACK OF HUMAN RIGHTS DISCUSSION A MISSED OPPORTUNITY
07/01/2009 CARDIN, U.S. DELEGATION SECURE RELEASE OF U.S. PRISONER IN BELARUS
06/24/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON THE DEVELOPING POST-ELECTION SITUATION IN IRAN
06/18/2009 MODERN DAY SLAVERY & THE 9th ANNUAL TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
06/16/2009 THE TROUBLE WITH THE RECENT IRANIAN ELECTIONS
06/16/2009 COMMISSION LEADERSHIP CALLS NEW TRAFFICKING REPORT A VITAL TOOL OF DIPLOMACY
06/16/2009 CARDIN ON THE IRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: WE MAY NEVER KNOW THE TRUE RESULTS
06/15/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON IRANIAN ELECTION
06/04/2009 CARDIN PRAISES OBAMA SPEECH TO THE MUSLIM WORLD, CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT TO PRESS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST
05/22/2009 CARDIN, CASEY RECOMMEND REVIEW OF IRAQI REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT POLICIES
05/20/2009 CARDIN: ENCOURAGING MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU REAFFIRMS SHARED US-ISRAEL PRIORITIES
05/07/2009 CARDIN URGES LEADERS OF AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN TO SEIZE HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY TO WORK TOGETHER
05/01/2009 SENATE PASSES BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
04/29/2009 BIPARTISAN SENATE COALITION SEEKS TO BROADEN PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY TO SANCTION IRAN
04/07/2009 CARDIN SAYS OBAMA BOLDLY MOVING FORWARD TO RESTORE U.S. LEADERSHIP AND CREDIBILITY ABROAD
03/30/2009 I AM COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION WILL ADVANCE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY GOALS
01/23/2009 CARDIN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF U.S. HELSINKI COMMISSION FOR 111th CONGRESS
01/22/2009 CARDIN LAUDS APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE MITCHELL AS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST
01/22/2009 CARDIN LAUDS APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD HOLBROOKE AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN
01/13/2009 CARDIN SUPPORTS SWIFT CONFIRMATION OF CLINTON TO BE TOP U.S. DIPLOMAT
01/07/2009 CARDIN STATEMENT ON ISRAEL AND GAZA
12/01/2008 STATEMENT ON WORLD AIDS DAY
12/01/2008 U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF HIS NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM
10/30/2008 CARDIN WELCOMES PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AFRICA TRADE OFFICE AS IT OFFICIALLY OPENS FOR BUSINESS
10/03/2008 SENATE PASSES CARDIN-MIKULSKI SPONSORED RESOLUTION HONORING OLYMPIC SWIMMERS
07/30/2008 CARDIN, BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS CALLS FOR OLYMPIC TRUCE IN DARFUR
07/17/2008 SENATOR CARDIN VOTES TO SUPPORT GLOBAL CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIV/AIDS, OTHER DISEASES
07/01/2008 CARDIN, ALEXANDER SEEK BAN ON IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN-GENERATED NUCLEAR WASTE
06/30/2008 STATEMENT OF BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE VICTIMS OF TORTURE
06/12/2008 STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN ON THE SUPREME COURT RULING BOUMEDIENE v. BUSH
05/08/2008 STATEMENT BY U.S. SENATOR BENJAMIN L. CARDIN COMMEMORATING THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF ISRAEL'S INDEPENDENCE
04/30/2008 CARDIN, MIKULSKI URGE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO PROTECT FEMALE GENITAL MUTATION VICTIM
03/18/2008 SENATOR CARDIN ANNOUNCES $400,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO ESTABLISH PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY AFRICA TRADE OFFICE
03/04/2008 KOSOVO: THE BALKAN'S MOMENT OF TRUTH?
02/27/2008 SENATOR CARDIN VOICES HIS SUPPORT FOR A NEW U.S. MISSION IN IRAQ
02/22/2008 HELSINKI CO-CHAIRMAN CARDIN DEBATES KOSOVO AT OSCE PA WINTER MEETING IN VIENNA
02/08/2008 CARDIN SAYS KENYA PEACE EFFORT IS AT A CRITICAL STAGE; URGES IMMEDIATE U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT
02/07/2008 ENCOURAGED BY PROGRESS, SENATOR CARDIN SAYS GREATER ACTION NEEDED TO COUNTER ANTI-SEMITISM IN EUROPE
02/01/2008 SENATOR CARDIN DENOUNCES SLOW DEPLOYMENT OF DARFUR PEACEKEEPERS
02/01/2008 SENATOR CARDIN APPLAUDS EFFORT TO STOP POST-ELECTON VIOLENCE IN KENYA
12/27/2007 STATEMENT ON THE ASSASSINATION OF BENAZIR BHUTTO
12/17/2007 SEN. CARDIN WELCOMES PASSAGE OF SUDAN ACCOUNTABILITY AND DIVESTMENT ACT
12/10/2007 HEARING ON: IS IT TORTURE YET?
12/10/2007 CARDIN HOLDS HEARING ON U.S. POLICY ON TORTURE
12/05/2007 CARDIN STATEMENT ON SENATE APPROVAL OF THE U.S.-PERU FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
11/28/2007 SENATOR CARDIN'S STATEMENT ON MIDDLE EAST PEACE TALKS IN ANNAPOLIS
09/28/2007 SENATE PASSES CARDIN AMENDMENT MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR U.S. TO BECOME LEADER IN GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST GENOCIDE, MASS ATROCITIES
09/04/2007 SENATOR CARDIN APPLAUDS IRANIAN RELEASE OF AMERICAN SCHOLAR
08/01/2007 CARDIN, MIKULSKI PRAISES PASSAGE OF STRONG DARFUR RESOLUTION
07/30/2007 REGARDING ARMS SALE TO SAUDI ARABIA
05/24/2007 SENATE PASSES CARDIN, MIKULSKI RESOLUTION CALLING FOR RELEASE OF MARYLAND SCHOLAR FROM IRANIAN PRISON
05/22/2007 CARDIN, MIKULSKI INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CALLING FOR RELEASE OF MARYLAND SCHOLAR FROM IRANIAN PRISON
05/04/2007 SENATE PASSES CARDIN RESOLUTION CALLING FOR ISRAEL'S INCLUSION IN INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORGANIZATION
04/12/2007 100 DAYS: FRESHMEN DEMOCRATIC SENATORS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR CHANGE IN IRAQ
04/05/2007 CARDIN JOINS MARYLAND LEGISLATORS AT DARFUR RALLY ON LAWYERS MALL
02/14/2007 FLOOR STATEMENT ON DARFUR
02/14/2007 SEN. CARDIN CALLS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION ON GENOCIDE IN DARFUR
02/05/2007 HEARING: GENOCIDE AND THE RULE OF LAW
01/19/2007 SEN. CARDIN CO-SPONSORS BIPARTISAN SENATE RESOLUTION DENOUNCING TROOP ESCALATION
01/11/2007 STATEMENT OF SENATOR CARDIN ON IRAQ
01/10/2007 SEN. CARDIN FIRMLY OPPOSES BUSH’S PLAN TO ESCALATE TROOP LEVELS IN IRAQ
 1  2  3 Next