American Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 after a brief and sudden illness. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
His death was announced by representatives of the politician's office. Just one day before his death, Graham was on an official visit to Kyiv. There he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, visited a drone manufacturing facility, and discussed further support for Ukraine as well as new sanctions against Russia.
Lindsey Graham represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate since 2003 and was considered one of the most influential figures in the Republican Party. At the beginning of his political career, he sharply criticized Donald Trump, but later became one of his closest allies and actively supported most of the former president's initiatives.
Graham was known for his tough stance on national security, defense, and foreign policy. He chaired the Senate Budget Committee, previously led the Judiciary Committee, and served on the Appropriations and Environment committees.
The cause of death has not been officially disclosed. The senator's office statement only said he died after a "brief and sudden illness." The politician's family asked for privacy during the mourning period.
Graham's death has caused widespread resonance both in the United States and internationally. His political legacy, especially his views on foreign policy and national security, will be discussed for a long time. The senator's passing may also affect the balance of power within the Republican Party, as he was one of its influential members.
Lindsey Graham's political career began in the 1990s when he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, then moved to the Senate in 2003. He was one of the longest-serving Republican senators and contributed to the passage of many important bills. With Graham's death, the American political scene has lost a significant figure.