Chris Christie on Foreign Policy

It's the price we pay for being leaders of the free world

Gov. Christie: Let's remember the last time that we turned our back on a shooting war in Europe. It bought us just a couple of years and then 500,000 Americans were killed in Europe to defeat Hitler. This is not a choice. This is the price we pay for being the leaders of the free world. And the fact is this alliance is not just with Russia and China. Iran is in the middle of this as well, and so is North Korea. And the reason they're doing it is because dictators work together. People who believe in democracy work together. We must stand with all of those that are standing up for democracy and freedom in this world. And let's remind everybody of this: In 1992, this country made a promise to Ukraine. We said if you return nuclear missiles that were part of the old Soviet Union to Russia and they invade you, we will protect you. An American promise that's 31 years old--we need to stand by it.

Work with reasonable Arab nations to isolate Iran

Chris Christie: Make sure that we continue to isolate Iran, work with the reasonable nations in the Middle East, the other Arab nations who want to partner with you and make sure that we continue to isolate Iran so that their only friends in the world are the part of the evil foursome, China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

Make sure that America's role in the world stays number one

If we don't stand against autocratic killing, we'll be next

Aid to Ukraine degrades Russian army; sends message to China

America is strongest moral power for what is good and right

CHRISTIE: I did.

Q: When asked about Russia being "killers," Pres. Trump responded, "What, you think our country is so innocent?" Is that consistent with your view of America's moral voice?

CHRISTIE: Listen, there is no question in my mind that America is the moral leader of the world. And that America is morally superior to Russia.

Q: What about the president's comments that we must respect Vladimir Putin, who has basically broken apart Russian democracy? What kind of a moral signal does that send?

CHRISTIE: I have known the president for 15 years, and I know exactly what he meant. He respects Vladimir Putin because he believes that the leaders of countries deserve to get treated with respect. But it doesn't mean that he agrees with him. It doesn't mean that he won't fight him, and it doesn't mean that he won't stand up to him.

World has fewer democracies than before Obama

Talk to our allies & foes, & keep our word, like I always do

A: There's a number of things that the next president is going to have to do to clean up this mess. We have to strengthen our alliances. The best way to do that is to start talking to our allies and having them be able to count on our word. One thing they've never said about me is that I'm misunderstood. Next, we have to talk to our adversaries, and we have to make sure they understand the limits of our patience.

Push Russia out of Middle East; establish US dominance

CHRISTIE: Well, we don't need to be friends with Vladimir Putin and we don't need to be worried about whether he's in a quagmire. After 40 years, we allowed Russia back into the Middle East. And now who are they partnered with? Iran.

Q: So how do you push them out?

CHRISTIE: America's got to re-establish its presence in that area. We should be the ones leading the fight on ISIS. And by the way, we know Putin's not fighting ISIS. Putin's there to prop up Assad.

Q: Would you put in a no-fly zone?

CHRISTIE: Absolutely. And I'll tell you this, there's now 300,000 nearly dead in Syria because of Assad and now Putin is going in and teaming with the Iranians to prop up Assad.

No relations with Cuba until they stop harboring fugitives

Christie: I think the Pope was wrong. I just believe that when you have a government that is harboring fugitives, murdering fugitives like Joanne Chesimard--who murdered a state policemen--that this president could extend diplomatic relations in that country without getting her returned so that she can serve the prison sentence, is outrageous

I won't deal with or even meet with countries that hate us

Against nuclear deal with Iran; keep state sanctions

"Many of our states have divestment policies as well as restrictions against state contractors doing business with the government of Iran. We intend to ensure that the various state-level sanctions that are now in effect remain in effect."

Stop worrying about being loved; instead be respected

Arm Emiratis, Jordanians, & others before sending US troops

A: My first alternative and preferred alternative is to arm the Jordanians, the Egyptians, the Emiratis and the Saudis to bring this fight to those folks. They need more help. They need better arms. They need more support from an intelligence perspective and they need to know that America's going to stand with them when the polls are up or down.

Tourism money won't end up with the people of Cuba

A: What he's doing is not going to work, to absolutely just cave in the Cubans. The fact is that we're now going to send hundreds of millions of dollars down to Cuba in tourist activity and economic activity and none of that is going to get to the people of Cuba.

Given who I am, Putin would not have invaded Crimea

According to an audio recording of the event, he said Putin had taken the measure of Obama. "I don't believe, given who I am, that he would make the same judgment," Christie said. "Let's leave it at that." One attendee described Christie's answer as disturbingly heavy on swagger and light on substance.

Christie places tremendous value on the personal projection of authority, as evidenced by his suggestion that Putin would think twice about challenging him. "Foreign policy, in my view, is about human relationships," Christie said at an American Enterprise Institute conference. "Men and women across the world judge each other," Christie said, "and they take a measure of the person based on your actions and your words." With Obama, he said mockingly, "words matter more to him than actions."

America should be clear to world about what we stand for

Moments later, he seemed to disregard his own mantra, saying: "I do detect some confusion in the world about who we are and what we stand for. That needs to be clear."

New isolationism, & reducing anti-terrorism, is dangerous

But yesterday , speaking at the Aspen Institute, NJ Governor Chris Christie denounced the effort to pull back on anti-terror measures as "dangerous" and warned that those--like Paul--who are attempting to craft an American retreat from the world are playing with fire. In speaking in this manner, Christie put himself on record as endorsing the policies of President George W. Bush that have been largely continued by President Obama as necessary, and served notice that Paul will be strongly opposed by Republicans who don't want their party to be hijacked by isolationists. In doing so, Christie not only indicated that he is prepared to run in part on foreign policy issues but may embolden other possible candidates with similar views to his on this question.

Remain vigilant but stay connected to rest of the world

Out of the rubble and the ruins, and out of the destruction, we were reminded that evil men guided by an evil ideology can do great harm to us; that no nation, no state, and no city is beyond their reach. And so we need to remain vigilant together and be prepared to act together with our friends and allies to discourage, deter and defend against aggressors all across the world against our nation and Israel.