Senate leadership responds to criticism of foreign troops training in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senate leadership today released the following statement after a resolution was filed that attempts to ban all foreign troops from training on Oklahoma military installations.

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 directs the Pentagon, Department of Defense, and the federal government to no longer send foreign troops to Oklahoma for training, despite the state’s military installations having a rich history of training programs with different countries.

The following statement can be attributed to the following: Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City; Sen. Greg McCortney, R-Ada; Sen. Roger Thompson, R-Okemah; Sen. John Michael Montgomery, R-Lawton; Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City; Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond and Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City

“Oklahoma has had partnerships with military forces from partner countries to train and maintain the safety and security of the United States and other allied countries for decades. To cut these ties would be akin to jeopardizing our national security. The resolution that was issued does not speak for the vast majority of the Oklahoma Senate, or Oklahomans, who welcome training exercises to defend the lands we love and our neighbors in other countries. We hope the troops from other countries currently training on our beloved military installations in Oklahoma feel welcomed and experience what makes our state the best in the country.”

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For more information, contact:
Pro Tem’s Office: (405) 521-5780 or Alex.Gerszewski@oksenate.gov
Sen. McCortney: (405) 521-5541 or Greg.McCortney@oksenate.gov
Sen. Thompson: (405) 521-5588 or Roger.Thompson@oksenate.gov
Sen. Montgomery: (405) 521-5567 or John.Montgomery@oksenate.gov
Sen. Stanley: (405) 521-5584 or Brenda.Stanley@oksenate.gov
Sen. Pugh: (405) 521-5622 or Adam.Pugh@oksenate.gov
Sen. Rosino: (405) 521-5618 or Paul.Rosino@oksenate.gov

Sen. Dahm files resolution rejecting Ukrainian troops in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed a resolution to reject the insertion of Ukrainian troops in Oklahoma.

“These America Last policies of the current regime should not be tolerated in Oklahoma,” Dahm said. “We saw how recently the Ukrainian military fired a rocket into Poland killing two innocent civilians. We certainly don’t need them practicing here in Oklahoma where our citizens could be under the constant threat of a similar failure.”

Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would direct the Pentagon to reverse course on their recent announcement to send 100 Ukrainian troops into Oklahoma for training on U.S. missile systems.

“This resolution rejects this attempt by the feds to put foreign troops in Oklahoma,” Dahm said. “It even encourages the governor, county officials, and law enforcement to use their powers to prohibit these foreign troops from being on Oklahoma soil.”

SCR 2 would remain in effect until superseded by a new resolution to ensure the feds don’t make another attempt in the future to send even more foreign troops.

“We must put the people of Oklahoma first,” Dahm said. “We shouldn’t be allowing the unaccountable spending, corruption, and potential money laundering to now flow through Oklahoma with the presence of foreign troops on our land.”