Nikki Haley says U.S. can't trust Russia, must be cautious

WASHINGTON — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley vowed Wednesday to be a strong voice against Russia's aggressive moves if she's confirmed as Donald Trump's ambassador to the United Nations.

"Russia is trying to show its muscle," Haley told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during her confirmation hearing. "We cannot trust them and need to continue to be cautious."

Haley said she was against Russia's annexation of Crimea and actions in Syria but said the U.S. needs Moscow's help to fight the Islamic State.

Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the committee, asked whether she supports sanctions on Russia over Ukraine.

"Russia has to make positive actions before we lift any sanctions," she replied.

On Israel, Haley said it was "a terrible mistake" last month when the U.S. abstained on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlements.  However, Haley said she supports a two-state solution and calls for Israel not to expand settlements in the West Bank on land Palestinians seek for a future state.

“I do understand how they (Palestinians) think they will hinder peace,” she said. But “we need to let the two parties decide those issues among themselves.” “For the U.N. to insert itself I believe is wrong,” she added.

Haley vowed her support for Trump's pledge to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a controversial position against long-time U.S. policy.

When asked about comments made by Trump that NATO had become obsolete, Haley said, “Any comments the president-elect has made are his comments.”

Haley disagreed with Trump on several issues during the hearing.

She said she was against a blanket ban on Muslim immigration, saying, “the president-elect corrected his position on that.”  Haley also said she disagrees with a proposed U.S. Muslim registry, calling it unconstitutional.

Corker said after the hearing that Haley showed her independence by expressing views that departed from some of Trump’s public statements. “I would rather see a group of people that have strong views on the president’s cabinet, rather than people who are in lockstep,” Corker said.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., asked Haley if she expects Trump’s views to shift on foreign policy. “You surround yourself with people who don’t just say ‘yes.’ And what I know about the president-elect is he will listen,” she answered.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., asked about the Iran nuclear deal and whether Haley agrees with Trump in wanting to back out of the deal negotiated by the Obama administration with Iran and five other world powers.

Haley said no. “More beneficial at this point is to look at all the aspects of the Iran deal, are they in compliance?” she said. “We need to hold them accountable.”

The United States currently contributes 22% of the U.N.'s general budget, and Haley questioned whether such a large investment is worthwhile.

“We are a generous nation,” she said. “But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?”

When pressed further about cutting U.S. spending to the U.N., Haley admitted she did not believe in a "slash and burn" technique but instead would report on whether certain U.N. programs are working.

Cardin earlier said he was concerned about Haley's lack of foreign policy experience but is impressed by her actions as governor. He pointed to her "call for the removal of the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse."

Haley, 44, described her upbringing in her opening statement as an "American story" — born to a middle-class Indian family and growing up in South Carolina, where the color of her skin was "too dark to be considered white and too light to be considered black."

Haley, backed by the Tea Party, made history in 2011 when she took office as South Carolina's first female governor. She has served two terms.

During the campaign for the Republican nomination, Haley criticized Trump and endorsed Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. After Rubio dropped out of the race, Haley backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. In October, she said she would vote for Trump, but was “not a fan.”

5 things to know about Trump's U.N. pick: S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley