DeKalb GA News

Republican Representative and incoming National Security Advisor Mike Waltz appeared on ABC's "This Week" with host Jon Karl to discuss the situation involving American hostages held by Hamas. The conversation focused on ongoing negotiations aimed at securing their release.

Jon Karl inquired about the likelihood of resolving the hostage situation by January 20th. Waltz responded, "Those negotiations are literally happening as we speak. Hamas is completely isolated." He expressed hope for a resolution before inauguration, stating, "I want to see them walking across the tarmac, or at a minimum, some type of agreement before inauguration."

Waltz warned of severe repercussions if such hostage diplomacy continues: "Any deal will only get worse for Hamas and there will be all hell to pay in the Middle East if we continue to have this kind of hostage diplomacy." He further emphasized that there would be consequences for those who harm Americans abroad: "There are gonna be consequences to those who think they can take an American, there is gonna no longer be any upside for those who harm Americans abroad."

In addition to discussing the hostages, Waltz addressed national security concerns in the Western Hemisphere. When asked about President Trump's remarks regarding potential military action concerning the Panama Canal and Greenland, Waltz clarified Trump's stance: "What he is very serious about is the threats that we are facing in the Arctic and the threats that we are facing in the Western Hemisphere."

He elaborated on U.S. interests in these regions: "There are elements for the US to come in and defend its critical assets in the Panama Canal, in the Panama Canal Treaty, in the Neutrality Treaty, and for Greenland there is precedent there as well with the 1951 Defense Agreement that we entered into."