Governor Mike Parson (R-MO) issued a new executive order on Tuesday prohibiting American adversaries from buying agricultural land near military facilities in Missouri.
The order will block the following entities from buying land in the state:
China
Russia
Cuba
Iran
North Korea
Venezuela
The aforementioned countries will be barred from buying land within a 10-mile radius of military facilities in the state.
Today, we announced Executive Order 24-01, which bans individuals and businesses from nations designated as foreign adversaries from purchasing agricultural land within a 10-mile radius of critical military facilities in the State of Missouri. https://t.co/uqJIYYxFFq pic.twitter.com/LpS7AQOpWJ
— Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) January 2, 2024
The Daily Wire noted, “The move comes as lawmakers across the country raise national security concerns over the purchase of land, some near military bases, across the U.S. by Chinese companies.”
Parson said:
“With heightened concerns regarding ownership of Missouri farmland by foreign adversaries, especially China, we are signing this order to safeguard our military and intelligence assets, prevent security threats to our state, and give Missourians greater peace of mind.”
“When it comes to China and other foreign adversaries, we must take commonsense precautions that protect Missourians and our security resources.”
Meanwhile, states like Arkansas and Florida enacted similar measures to stop foreign countries from buying up land.
“I further declare that no Missouri agricultural land shall be acquired or owned by an alien or foreign business who is a citizen, resident, or incorporated under the laws of a foreign adversary,” Parson’s executive order.
Missouri has several major military facilities, including:
Rosecrans Air National Guard Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Fort Leonard Wood.
Any foreign land purchase will need approval from the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
Parson said he still wants the state to have strong business ties with countries like Sweden, Germany, and Japan.
“Missouri must remain open for business to our allies,” Parson added.
“As such, we believe this order, with the authority we have, sufficiently protects Missouri’s security interests from potential bad actors while not punishing our allies for being good economic partners or upstanding individuals fleeing oppression and coming to our nation legally in search of a better life.”
Republican lawmakers in the state have now said that they support Parson’s executive order.
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