On July 4, Sen. Ernst addresses members of the Iowa National Guard deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. Photo from Sen. Ernst's office.
WASHINGTON (KELO.com) — As Americans celebrated Independence Day, Senator Joni Ernst visited members of the Iowa National Guard deployed to Kosovo and other Iowa troops serving in Germany and Belgium.
It was part of an official multi-day visit to meet with U.S. military leaders, NATO allies, and Kosovo government officials.
Ernst is a former combat veteran and officer in the Iowa National Guard.
More on the trip from Ernst’s office:
Ernst participated in an official multi-day tour to Europe, beginning on Thursday, July 1. That day, Ernst met with and was briefed by U.S. Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany, where they discussed countering violent extremist groups on the rise in East Africa, such as Al Shabaab, AQIM, and Boko Haram, and the growing influence of Russia and China in the region.
On July 2nd, Ernst met with and was briefed by U.S. European Command (USEUCOM), including General Wolters, Supreme Allied Commander-Europe. They discussed the recent NATO summit and U.S.-NATO relations and operations specifically in regards to Russia and China.
Ernst also traveled to Brussels, Belgium, where she visited NATO Headquarters and the NATO Special Operations School and was briefed on the school’s training capabilities and participation of member nations. During the day, Ernst visited with Iowans stationed at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux.
On Saturday, July 3, Ernst traveled to Pristina, Kosovo, the nation’s capital. There, Ernst was hosted by Madam President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, and other top Kosovo government officials, including the Minister of Defense and the Speaker of the Kosovo Parliament.
On Sunday, July 4, Ernst visited Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo where she met with members of the Iowa National Guard unit deployed there and celebrated Independence Day with the troops overseas. The unit is deployed as part of Iowa’s State Partnership Program with Kosovo.
