- Michael Young was the president of University of Utah, as well as other major research institutions.
- Young spoke about religious liberty and representing U.S. interests in the critical region.
- Young helped negotiate German reunification and would bring decades of diplomatic experience to the post.
Former University of Utah President Michael Young appeared at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Thursday for his nomination by President Donald Trump to serve as ambassador to Serbia.
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Young spoke at the hearing about his extensive civic and academic experience, including in the area of religious liberty.
Young was also president of the University of Washington and Texas A&M University. His work in government includes an appointment as ambassador for trade and environmental affairs under President George H.W. Bush and two-time chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
In his introduction of Young, Utah Sen. Mike Lee said the Brigham Young University graduate was “so qualified, it’s going to be hard to get through his qualifications and have you not think that I’m severely exaggerating.”
Young would be stepping into a challenging assignment. The U.S. State Department has classified Serbia as a key player at the social, political and economic crossroads of Eastern and Western Europe.
“There is great potential for U.S. companies in Serbia, and deeper economic ties with the United States that are very much in our and Serbia’s interests,” Young said during his confirmation hearing on Thursday.
Asked by Lee about his experience with religious freedom issues, Young spoke about the importance of encouraging religious liberty in Serbia. He recognized that while Serbia is predominantly Serbian Orthodox, Islam and other Christian faiths are also practiced within the country.
“If confirmed, I would strongly urge the Serbian government to ensure that everybody (can worship freely) … to preserve freedom of thought, conscience and belief in all of its manifestations,” Young said.
More than three decades ago, Young helped negotiate the reunification of Germany at the close of the Cold War. If confirmed by the Senate, he will return to diplomacy in the Western Balkans, one of modern-day Europe’s most contested regions.
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Rubio seeking to strengthen ties with Serbia
Serbia has been the subject of recent international attention with the launch of the inaugural U.S.-Serbia Strategic Dialogue in July, which consists of high-level meetings between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Ðurić.
“Russia and China have footholds in Serbia, particularly in the energy and tech sectors,” Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said at the beginning of the hearing. “If Belgrade wants to improve relations with the United States, it won’t do so by continuing to work with our adversaries.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., asked Young how he plans to encourage Serbia to engage more with the West.
“Help (ing) them reduce energy dependence on Russia, work(ing) to urge Serbians to create an environment that allows American companies to compete fairly and deepen(ing) our conversations over military cooperation are all things that need to be done,” Young said.
Growing trade between Serbia and China is of particular concern to the United States given that Serbia holds one of Europe’s largest lithium reserves.
Young said he is aware of these issues, and plans to help Serbia increase economic engagement with the West if confirmed as ambassador.
“I will encourage Serbia to embrace a political and economic future that benefits the United States, not competitors such as Russia and China,” Young said. “This means strengthening our bilateral engagement and deepening our business and economic ties.”
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