Andrew Yang on Foreign Policy

	Andrew Yang on Foreign Policy Democratic Presidential Challenger & Tech CEO

International consensus and coalitions on data

Q: How would you deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin?

YANG: We're going to live up to our international commitments. We're going to recommit to our partnerships and alliances, including NATO. And it was James Mattis that said "the more you invest in diplomats and diplomacy, the less you have to spend on ammunition." That has to be the path forward to help build an international consensus not just against Russia, but also to build a coalition that will help us put pressure on China, in terms of their treatment of their ethnic minorities, and what's going on in Hong Kong.

I want to propose a new world data organization, like a WTO for data, because right now, unfortunately, we're living in a world where data is the new oil and we don't have our arms around it. These are the ways that we'll actually get Russia to the table and make it so they have to join the international community and stop resisting appeals to the world order.

Source: November Democratic primary debate in Atlanta , Nov 20, 2019

US should lead the way on climate change

The U.S. is vital to building an international consensus on climate change. We need to act first because, by forming the table and saying who's with us on this, we can galvanize dozens of our allies and partners in the Western world. The U.S. has always been a global leader. We are still the focal point of the world's economy. And if we lead on this, then we can move people in the right direction very quickly. Source: Climate Crisis Town Hall (CNN 2019 Democratic primary) , Sep 4, 2019

Provide model for democratic capitalism, not authoritarians

China obviously has great ambition, and their system of government is becoming increasingly authoritarian as they develop more technologies that allow them to monitor and control their population. It's important that we work with our allies to combat the spread of this authoritarian capitalism and provide a model for democratic capitalism. An ascendant China isn't a direct threat to the United States, as long as we are strong at home and project that confidence to developing nations. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary , Aug 9, 2019

Helping Ukraine defend itself against Russia helps US

Russian aggression in Ukraine is a blatant violation of international law, and we have the obligation to work with our allies to act. Helping Ukraine will also help us prepare for Russian aggression. The Russian interference in Ukrainian elections was a precursor to their interference in US elections. By helping neighboring states to Russia defend themselves, we're also learning how to defend ourselves. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary , Aug 9, 2019

Let our values lead us: no aid to Saudi Arabia against Yemen

The United States should be providing no aid to Saudi Arabia in its assault on Yemen. We must be pragmatic in our foreign policy in recognizing that we will often have to deal with countries that have bad values. We should also be sure to always let our values lead us. A reset of the relationship with Saudi Arabia under this understanding would prevent us from getting involved in another conflict like the one in Yemen by centering our diplomacy around our values and ideals. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary , Aug 9, 2019

Two-state solution is only end to Israel/Palestine conflict

The only acceptable end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict involves a two-state solution that allows both the Israeli and Palestinian people to have sovereign land and self-determination. Israel has been an important ally to the US, and it will continue to be an important ally. It is a democracy in a region where that is rare. I disagree with some of the policies of the current Israeli administration, but I believe the relationship is fundamentally strong and will continue to be. Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary , Aug 9, 2019

No quick answers on Israel, but supports two state solution

Q: It's day one of your presidency; Israelsi prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is annexing the occupied West Bank. What's your response?

YANG: Israel and the West Bank--it's been an historic morass. And so I don't have any quick answers or solutions. But clearly that would be against the principles that have been in place in terms of trying to reach a solution. In my mind, the two-state solution be ideal and that would be against my vision for the region.

Source: Current Affairs magazine, 2019 interview series , Jul 5, 2019

Russia has been hacking our democracy for years

Q: What is the greatest geopolitical threat facing the United States?

Sen. Michel BENNET (D-CO): The biggest threat to our national security right now is Russia, not China. When I see these kids [being separated from their families] at the border, I see my mom, because she was separated from her parents during the Holocaust in Poland. For Donald Trump to be doing what he's doing to children and families at the border, the president has turned the border of the United States into a symbol of nativist hostility when we should be represented by the Statue of Liberty. We need to make a change.

Andrew YANG: I just want to agree that I think Russia is our greatest geopolitical threat, because they have been hacking our democracy successfully and they've been laughing their asses off about it for the last couple of years. We should focus on that before we start worrying about other threats.

Source: June Democratic Primary debate (second night in Miami) , Jun 27, 2019

Some Israeli actions are problematic on human rights

Q: Do you think Israel meets international standards of human rights?

A: "Certainly, some of the actions that are being taken there are deeply problematic."

Q: Where would you go on your first international trip as president?

A: "It would be someplace in South America, I would imagine."

Source: 2019 "Meet the Candidates" (NY Times.com) , Jun 18, 2019

Be very judicious about projecting force

America is the beneficiary of the international world order we helped establish throughout the twentieth century. That said, we have deluded ourselves into thinking that we are capable of doing things that we are not, sometimes at a terrible cost to ourselves and others. My first principles concerning foreign policy are restraint and judgment--we should be very judicious about projecting force and have clear goals that we know we can accomplish. We should treat our men and women in the armed services as the brave and self-sacrificing leaders that they are, both during and after their deployments. If I send young men and women into harm's way, they will know that vital national interests are at stake and there is a clear plan for them to achieve their goal in a reasonable time frame. Source: 2020 presidential campaign website Yang2020.com , Mar 29, 2019

Strengthen alliances such as NATO; reinvest in diplomacy

Problems to be solved:

America has involved itself at too high a cost in foreign issues that don't concern us
We've lowered our stature in the world community, alienating allies and making it harder to form an effective coalition to accomplish our goals on the world stage

As President, I will...

Work with our allies to rebuild our stature in the world, and strengthen alliances such as NATO
Reinvest in diplomacy and bolster funding to the State Department
Work with allies to project our combined strength throughout the world, without engaging in activities that will cost American lives and money with no clear benefit to our long-term well-being
Sign a repeal to the AUMF, returning the authority to declare war to Congress
Regularly audit the Department of Defense
Focus our federal budget on fixing problems at home instead of spending trillions of dollars abroad

Source: 2020 presidential campaign website Yang2020.com , Mar 29, 2019

Puerto Rican statehood is overdue step toward equality

Puerto Rico should be a state--they function as one right now without the political rights and bankruptcy protection. If Puerto Ricans looked like Swedes they'd be a state already. We must not only offer them political equality but help them rebuild their economy and infrastructure--it will take time but that's what Americans do.