Third GOP presidential primary debate: on Foreign Policy


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

Q: How long should Americans be expected to help fund the war in Ukraine?

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.

Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

Chris Christie: Work with reasonable Arab nations to isolate Iran

Q: What to do in the Middle East?

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.

Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

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

Gov. Chris Christie: Listen, it's a gift. A gift to be an American. I'm running for president to be a president of consequence, to do the big things, to make sure that America's role in the world stays number one. That we stand up for our friends and allies around the world and we stand up for what we believe in right here at home.
Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

Nikki Haley: It is not that Israel needs America; America needs Israel

Q: The Israel-Hamas war is a month old. As President, what would you be urging Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do?

Nikki Haley: We need to be clear-eyed. The last thing we need to do is to tell Israel what to do. The only thing we should be doing is supporting them in eliminating Hamas. It is not that Israel needs America, America needs Israel. They are the tip of the spear when it comes to this Islamic terrorism and we need to make sure that we have their backs in that process.

Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

Ron DeSantis: My China policy is very simple: we win; they lose

Gov. Ron DeSantis: I think that China's the top threat we face. They've been very effective at infiltrating different parts of our society. So my policy on China and the Chinese Communist Party is very simple, we win, they lose. It's not just military, it's economic and it's cultural. It's a full spectrum approach to be able to fend China off. Yes, military deterrence, yes, economic decoupling, but also their role in our culture. If we ignore that, we're not going to be able to win the fight.
Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy: Ukraine is no paragon of democracy; it's not good-vs-evil

Vivek Ramaswamy: Ukraine is not a paragon of democracy. This is a country that has banned 11 opposition parties. It has consolidated all media into one state TV media arm. That's not democratic. It has threatened not to hold elections this year unless the U.S. forks over more money. That is not democratic. It has celebrated a Nazi in its ranks, the comedian in cargo pants, a man called Zelensky. And so to frame this as some kind of battle between good versus evil, don't buy it.
Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami Nov 8, 2023

  • The above quotations are from NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami, and commentary.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Foreign Policy:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Nov 18, 2023