Council on Foreign Relations: on Foreign Policy
Vladimir Putin:
Georgia & Ukraine in NATO was a red line since late 2000s
Russian leaders have long been wary of the eastward expansion of NATO, particularly as the alliance opened its doors to former Warsaw Pact states and ex-Soviet republics in the late 1990s (the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) and early 2000s
(Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia). Their fears grew in the late 2000s as the alliance stated its intent to admit Georgia and Ukraine at an unspecified point in the future.For the Kremlin, the notion that Ukraine,
a pillar of the Soviet Union with strong historic ties to Russia, would join NATO was a red line. Although NATO did not announce a formal membership plan for Ukraine and Georgia at the Bucharest Summit, the alliance did affirm "that these countries will
become members of NATO," and it extended formal invitations to accession talks to Albania and Croatia, which became members in 2009. NATO expanded again in 2017, admitting Montenegro, and in 2020, welcoming North Macedonia.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations: "NATO / Ukraine"
Jan 20, 2022
Jeanne Shaheen:
Public cares about rights of women & girls in Afghanistan
It's important to point out that the United States is the first that has actually codified this Women, Peace, and Security Act. We know when women are at the table that negotiations are 64% less likely to fail; that agreements are 35% more likely to
last for 15 years or more. There is good data to show that having women at the table, which most of the women here would agree to, really makes a difference in terms of how peace is negotiated, conflict is negotiated, and then how lasting it is.
I've had a chance to quiz our military leadership there about this. Every time I've had a chance to do that, they have reaffirmed the commitment to Afghan women and girls. As I talk to people in New Hampshire, where the war in Afghanistan is not
uppermost in people's minds, whenever you talk about Afghanistan the first thing people talk about is are we going to keep our commitment to the women and the girls in Afghanistan. The public cares about this issue.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations: 2020 New Hampshire Senate race
May 18, 2020
Deval Patrick:
Crime for Trump to ask Ukraine to investigate Biden
Patrick has issued no policy proposals regarding U.S. policy toward Russia, though he criticizes Trump for his willingness to solicit foreign interference in U.S. elections.He says that
Trump's request that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky investigate fellow presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden is "a crime in and of itself" and calls for Trump's impeachment.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on impeaching Trump
Dec 24, 2019
Joe Walsh:
Steadfastly support NATO
Walsh says he would steadfastly support the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which Trump has repeatedly criticized. Walsh claims that Trump "bear hugs" the leaders of adversarial states such as Russia and North Korea while he "stiff-arms our
allies."Walsh emphasizes the benefits of traditional U.S. alliances and criticizes President Trump for undermining long-standing relationships. Walsh says Trump "embarrasses our allies" and "embraces tyrants abroad."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
System of alliances achieved peace & democratic progress
Bloomberg calls Trump's approach to diplomacy "incompetent" and "counterproductive," arguing that it is alienating the United States, insulting allies, and flattering adversaries. He says that commitment to the system of alliances the United States
helped build after World War II should be bipartisan, since that system has helped achieve peace, democratic progress, and economic growth. Both as mayor and through his philanthropy, he has furthered his vision of diplomatic engagement with heads of
state, city representatives, business leaders, and organizations around the world.
He has worked closely with the United Nations, especially on climate. In 2014 he was appointed a UN special envoy for climate and he has helped to organize
UN climate summits.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has worked with global institutions such as the World Health Organization and with national governments on its public health initiatives in areas such as disease prevention, nutrition, and family planning.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Don't recognize Crimea annexation; do extend START treaty
Bloomberg argues for stronger measures to counter Russia while also calling for fresh negotiations with Moscow on arms control.He says that lifting any sanctions on Russia or recognizing its annexation of Crimea would be "a monumental mistake."
He argues that Washington must continue providing Ukraine with lethal aid for it to defend against Russian aggression and maintain faith in U.S. security guarantees.
He has called Putin a "strongman" who seeks territorial expansion and the
destabilization of Europe and who has abetted war crimes in Syria by supporting Bashar al-Assad's government.
He opposes the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Europe, arguing that it would give Putin increased leverage over
European countries.
He calls for talks with Russia to extend the New START treaty, a nuclear arms reduction agreement set to expire in 2021, as well as to revive the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Saudi Arabia's modernization is going in the right direction
Bloomberg's views on the Middle East have focused on his close ties to Israel, his ambivalence toward the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, and his support for Saudi Arabia's modernization efforts.Bloomberg hosted Saudi Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Salman in New York in 2018 and he has praised Saudi Arabia for its reform efforts, especially its expansion of women's rights, saying the country is going "in the right direction."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Mike Bloomberg:
Trump coddles Russia; they intruded in 2016 election
Bloomberg accuses Trump of "coddling" President Vladimir Putin and failing to stand up to him over Russia's interference in U.S. elections. He argues for stronger measures to counter Russia. He says that Trump is in a "state of denial" about
Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, which Bloomberg calls "a hostile power's intrusions into U.S. sovereignty."
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on impeaching Trump
Dec 24, 2019
Tom Steyer:
Rebuild traditional multilateral alliances like NATO
Steyer focuses on reversing what he calls Trump's isolationist stance. He pledges to "rebuild" military alliances such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).Steyer says he would "work with our traditional allies in a multilateral way"
and argues that Trump's pullback from global institutions has left a vacuum that China and Russia are eager to fill. He says he will "reinvigorate" the State Department, where Trump has sought budget and staffing cuts.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Tom Steyer:
More foreign aid for Central America
Steyer has not taken a position on the economic and political crisis in Venezuela, and he has made few comments on U.S. policy elsewhere in the region.
He says he will provide more foreign aid for Central American countries as part of his plan to address the record number of asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 24, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Transition Heartland from isolationism to Internationalism
Several years ago David Ignatius of the Washington Post once wrote a column titled "The Internationalism of the Heartland." And in it, he wrote about how some of the defining voices of global commitment over the past half-century have come from
America's middle. And by that, he just didn't mean people in the middle of the political spectrum. He meant people in the middle of the country. And I actually have given speeches at home about my own state's transition from isolationism. When
Ignatius interviewed me for that column, I told him that as a senator from the Midwest that I believed that we needed to embrace rather than tolerate internationalism. He summarized my comments by saying that after a difficult decade the United States
needs a refreshed internationalism that recognizes its stake in the world, even as it avoids costly military commitments where possible. He called this approach internationalism of the heartland. And I think it is more important now more than ever.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 11, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Five Rs: restore, repair, rejoin, respond, and reassert
Today I want to talk about five steps we can take to address the challenges facing our country. They are simply called the five Rs: restoring American leadership, repairing our alliances, rejoining international agreements, responding appropriately to
the threats and challenges that come before us, and reasserting American values--restoring, repairing, rejoining, responding, and reasserting.So we'll start with restoring American leadership. We have to send a clear message that America is once
again a global power of good. Trust from our allies that we will stand with them is key, and trust from our adversaries that we will oppose them and defeat them.
In my first one hundred days as president, I will launch an effort to rebuild and
restore our diplomatic corps. That begins with immediately depoliticizing foreign policymaking and ensuring that the State Department and international agencies receive sufficient funding. We will recruit a new generation of Foreign Service officers.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 11, 2019
Amy Klobuchar:
Beware China's Uighur internment camps & Hong Kong crackdown
We only have to look at China's detention of over one million Uighurs in internment camps or its attempts to crack down on democratic protesters in Hong Kong to see how far that country will go. And it has been playing by its own trade rules for years,
stealing our cutting-edge technologies and intellectual property, and dumping steel. It weaponizes its economy against its neighbors by withholding key exports to try to extract political concessions, and it is pouring money into a military
modernization program specifically designed to keep America at a distance and intimidate its neighbors. It's trying to embed itself in our most sensitive infrastructure through internet firms which we know have strong ties to the Chinese government.
If you're China and looking at us right now, you see a president that doesn't keep his decisions seven minutes from now. He has used a meat cleaver--or, should I say, a tweet cleaver--and is creating chaos with his erratic approach.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Dec 11, 2019
Susan Rice:
Worked to bring allies together to address challenges
Q: What is the Obama foreign policy legacy?RICE: I think we effectively leveraged our alliances and partnerships to address key concerns. Whether it was working to negotiate the Paris Climate Agreement, or the Iran nuclear agreement, or the
Trans-Pacific Partnership, or the coalition to fight ISIS, or to fight the Ebola epidemic. We effectively brought allies and partners together to address those complex challenges and did so even as we had to confront many of them simultaneously.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 Veepstakes
Nov 14, 2019
Bill Weld:
China promised two systems for Hong Kong; we're watching
Q: How should China's treatment of the Uighurs and the situation in Hong Kong affect broader U.S. policy toward China?A: China's behavior should be a wake-up call for the United States, its allies, friends, and partners. While the US can and must do
business with China, it can have no illusions about the type of state China is and about its ambitions. It also needs to be clear that it will not accept China continuing to follow the old line, "we're big, you're small. What don't you understand?"
It is not acceptable in the 21st century. China should have no doubt that the world knows what it is doing, and is watching. China promised the peoples of Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the world, at the 1997 handover ceremony which I attended in
Hong Kong, that there would be and could be two systems in a single country. If China takes a punitive approach, China will demonstrate that its political word is suspect. The implications for Taiwan, a real Chinese democracy, are ominous.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Bill Weld:
Support democracy, the rule of law, and prosperity in Africa
Q: By 2050, Africa will account for 25% of the world's population. What are the implications of this demographic change for the U.S., and how should we adjust our policies to anticipate them?A: We should be thrilled that a continent that was
historically underdeveloped and a playground for outside powers is finally growing in wealth as well as population and able to make its voice heard on the world stage. And we should be forging relationships with African countries to support democracy,
the rule of law, and prosperity. In some countries, the Catholic Church could be helpful to our efforts. Right now we are getting our brains beat in by China in courting African nations, because we simply don't make it a high enough priority. In my
Administration, the Secretary of State for African Affairs would have my ear. On security matters, we and our allies need to continue to help Africa fight terrorists. Al Qaeda offshoots pose a threat to the entire continent, not just the sub-Sahara.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Bill Weld:
Multi-party talks to resolve Venezuelan situation
Q: What additional steps should the U.S. take to remove Nicolas Maduro from power in Venezuela?A: We have to go through Cuba, China and Russia to rationalize the situation in Venezuela. Most of the top decision makers there are Cuban, which has
hollowed out Venezuela's government, & the spillover into our ally Colombia has been dramatic. I would propose multi-party talks, in which the dynamic new Pres. Duque of Colombia, who greatly impressed me recently in Cartagena, could perhaps play a role.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential hopefuls
Oct 3, 2019
Marianne Williamson:
Stronger position on Saudi Arabia; end involvement in Yemen
The United States needs to take a much stronger position with regard to Saudi Arabia. We must stop US involvement in the war in Yemen.
We should reject all arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. We should press for an independent criminal investigation into the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi including any role that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may have played.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 16, 2019
Marianne Williamson:
Help Venezuela freely choose its own political future
If the US really wants to see a peaceful political transition in Venezuela it needs to help create the conditions for effective dialogue, which means supporting moderate factions on both sides that seek a peaceful transition and supporting
existing efforts to promote dialogue. The best policy in Venezuela and most places is to support efforts that allow the country's citizens to decide on their political future (even if it's not exactly the sort of future that the US favors).
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 16, 2019
Marianne Williamson:
US should be more involved in opportunities in Africa
A growing Africa means opportunities we should not ignore. Angola has a president who is reversing decades of corruption. Algeria and Sudan are seeking peaceful transitions of power, and
South Africa is struggling to re-establish economic growth and build opportunity for its people. In each case the United States could have been involved in these positive developments but was not.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Aug 16, 2019
Bill de Blasio:
1980s: supported Sandinista National Liberation Front
Before turning his focus to New York City politics, his first interest was Central America. During the 1980s he supported the Sandinista
National Liberation Front and opposed the Reagan administration's support for the contras. He and his wife honeymooned in Cuba, which was illegal for Americans at the time.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2019 Democratic primary
Aug 12, 2019
Andrew Yang:
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
Andrew Yang:
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
Andrew Yang:
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
Andrew Yang:
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
Joe Sestak:
Absence from leadership has let autocrats act with impunity
I want to restore U.S. leadership within a rules-based liberal world order that holds nations accountable for their behavior. We must regain our leadership of the values-based world order from which we have retreated. Our absence has permitted China,
Russia and emerging autocrats to act with impunity, with no concerns about consequences. We need to renew our commitment to multilateral action and the international institutions we built to establish and enforce global human rights standards.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Work with allies to oppose Russian aggression in Ukraine
The territorial aggression of Russia must not be allowed to continue. This is a prime example of why US leadership of a rules-based global order is so important that also recognizes the value and need of allies for their equal contributions in different
ways. We need new leadership here at home in order to re-establish that the United States is committed to democracy's values, and that we will not turn our backs on democratic countries under threat from autocrats like Vladimir Putin.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Join with allies to compel improved behavior by Saudis
For decades the United States considered Saudi Arabia our closest ally in the Arab world, even though this meant turning a blind eye to their egregious human rights record, including abhorrent treatment of women. Saudi Arabia has made clear that its
incoming leader will fail to have the values necessary to change the nation's illiberal behavior. We must work within and in leadership of a global concord to compel behavior by the Saudis that moves it toward a rules-based world order.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Support 2-state solution; return embassy to Tel Aviv
We must maintain our steadfast support of Israel, but we must also work much harder to deal fairly with the Palestinians. This means returning our embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, because it has always been accepted that this would be part of a
two-state solution, not a unilateral decision. At the same time we must deal with the bias against Israel in key United Nations organizations and make clear that our support for Israel as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people is sacrosanct.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Joe Sestak:
Can't risk losing influence in Africa to China
Africa will be a powerhouse soon, and Africans will remember who was there for them. We must double down on meeting the continent's needs--from addressing poverty and infrastructure to developmental aid and education--or we risk losing influence in
Africa to China and other countries not aligned with our values. We must also offer much more economic, financial and diplomatic support to the developing economies of Africa, and incentivize US companies to get engaged in fair, just ways.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Accept both cooperation and conflict with China
Beijing seems committed to consolidating authoritarian capitalism as an alternative to the democratic capitalism embraced by the United States and its allies. Where necessary, we should seek cooperation with Beijing, such as in addressing climate
disruption, maintaining strategic stability, combatting terrorism, and managing conflict. But the United States must defend our fundamental values, core interests, and critical alliances, and accept that this will often entail friction with China.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Sanctions on Russia; support for Ukraine
We must keep tough, targeted, and effective economic and financial sanctions on Russia as long as it continues to assault Ukrainian territory and citizens and continues to illegally occupy Ukrainian territory. Countering Russian aggression also means
supporting Ukraine's independence and ability to make and implement sovereign foreign policy decisions by supporting Ukraine's political, economic, and defense capabilities.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
We must reset our relationship with Saudi Arabia
The United States must halt military support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. As president, I would suspend all arms sales to Saudi Arabia that could be used in the Yemen war. We need to increase our diplomatic efforts and work with our allies to
end the conflict itself, which has generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis and helped to spread extremism. We must reset our relationship with Saudi Arabia, so that our interests and values drive the relationship--not the other way around.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Supports 2-state solution, but not current Israeli policies
I do support a two-state solution. The US alliance with Israel and support for Israel's security have long been fundamental tenets of US policy. But this is not a zero-sum game. I have clearly and strongly stated my support for the security of Israel,
and I have also said that I disagree with policies being carried out by the current Israeli administration. A two-state solution that achieves legitimate Palestinian aspirations and meets Israel's security needs remains the only viable way forward.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Pete Buttigieg:
Targeted sanctions against Venezuelan officials
Our end-state in Venezuela is a peaceful transfer of power to an interim constitutional government followed by free and fair elections. I would continue to apply targeted sanctions against regime officials--but broad economic sanctions, such as
those pursued by the Trump administration, run the risk of hurting innocent Venezuelans enabling the Maduro regime to promote the false narrative that the U.S. is responsible for the country's misery.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Condemn China's human rights abuses
Human rights must be a key focus of our foreign policy, both with China and around the world. The United States should publicly condemn China's human rights abuses and continually raise them at the highest levels in diplomatic dialogue.
We should also pursue targeted sanctions on entities and individuals who are involved in repression and make clear that we support Hong Kong's autonomy.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Need to push Saudis on human rights, not arm Yemen war
Saudi leadership is playing a double game of implementing some limited societal and economic reforms while, at the same time, cracking down on dissidents--including Jamaal Khashoggi, the journalist living in the United States who the
Saudis brutally murdered. In 2020 and beyond, we need to push the Saudis on human rights, stop giving them weapons to kill civilians in Yemen, and make the terms of our alliance conditional on their compliance.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Support two-state solution, not current Israeli government
I unequivocally support a two-state solution. Israelis deserve to live in peace and security, and the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own. Israel is our closest ally in the Middle East and will continue to be. But we cannot continue to
support their current right-wing government's policies that have made a two-state solution virtually impossible. There's blame to go around, but the Israelis have failed to live up to the standards we demand from our allies, and that needs to change.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Venezuela: US should not try to be world's policeman
The Trump administration's approach to Venezuela is a throwback to the Cold War: intervene in support of a coup, blame Cuba for everything, and in the process, make America a foil for Maduro to use with his people as the reason his economy is faltering.
We should continue to sanction Venezuelan leaders and encourage the opposition. But if my time in the Marines taught me anything, it's that the United States is not the world's policeman. Nor should we try to be.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Seth Moulton:
Africa: help next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs
The United States should work to help build the next generation of leaders in Africa by partnering with governments, civil society organizations, and others throughout the continent. The U.S government should also work directly with entrepreneurs,
especially in Africa's developing countries. Lastly, while extreme poverty has fallen worldwide, too many Africans still struggle on less than $2 a day. We must help these countries grow their middle classes.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 presidential primary
Jul 30, 2019
Stacey Abrams:
We've returned to isolationism, driven by fear-mongering
I no longer believe that there is this bright line between domestic and foreign policy. I think what we have seen play out in the last few years has shown us just how thin that line is, if the line exists at all. You cannot be an effective leader in
domestic policy if you do not understand how foreign policy not only informs, but sometimes challenges and pushes into relief the tensions that exist. And so, yes, I care a lot about foreign policy and have been doing it for a while.
We've, unfortunately, returned to what can often be cast as sort of the know-nothing time of our foreign policy. When we were an isolationist country, that is much of what we're seeing now, only instead of it being grounded in a sense that
America is stronger by itself it's actually couched more, I believe, because of the leader we have, in racism and xenophobia and sexism and homophobia, misogyny. And it's driven by a fear-mongering that is undermining exactly who we should be.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race
May 10, 2019
Stacey Abrams:
Our moral credibility in the world has been diminished
My deepest fear is that we will have to take a long time to restore our position in the world because our moral credibility has been diminished. It is a matter of degree, not of difference. We have to remember that in the United States it looks
slightly different, but we have a Muslim ban on entry, we have undervalued and mistreated voters right here at home, and we have allowed the blossoming of laws that have systematically suppressed minority rights and minority votes.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race
May 10, 2019
Stacey Abrams:
Representation matters in our foreign service
As of 2018, our Foreign Service corps was 88% white and two-thirds male. That has not always been so. Under George Bush, George W. Bush, Clinton, Obama, we actually saw a diversification of our foreign policy corps in a way that was truly reflective of
who we are as America. Representation matters, but also the diversity of ideas and our ability to engage. When we send our foreign corps to the Middle East, having women who can have conversations with other women is an important consideration.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race
May 10, 2019
Stacey Abrams:
Concerned China building infrastructure, relationships
What China is doing with infrastructure, it is deeply concerning because that type of largess comes with obligations. There is a good to building infrastructure in place where colonization and disinvestment has disrupted development. But I think we
should be deeply concerned about how it's coming into being. We need to be prepared to intercede when the bill comes due. Because China understands what they're doing. They are building out not only infrastructure but relationships.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2022 Georgia Governor race
May 10, 2019
Kamala Harris:
Decisions should be made after outreach to allies
After the president announced his decision in December to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, Harris said: My concern is that when we make decisions about what we will do in terms of our military presence, much less our diplomatic priorities, that we do
that in a way that will involve consultation with our military leaders, in a way that would involve some kind of consultation, or at least outreach to our allies around the globe.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Feb 11, 2019
Joe Biden:
Easier for Russia to deal with disunified West
Q: Is it accurate or useful to describe where we are with Russia as a second or new cold war?BIDEN: I think that'd be a little bit of an exaggeration. The Cold War was based on a conflict of two profoundly different ideological notions of how the
world should function. This is just basically about a kleptocracy protecting itself. That's a vast oversimplification. It's much easier if you're dealing with 28 different nations not in union with one another, not a Western economy that is coordinated.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Jan 23, 2018
Nikki Haley:
Time to show people reasons to support the U.N.
This is a moment of great responsibility for those who believe in peace and security through international cooperation. Countries all over the world are turning inward. People are questioning the value of interactions with other nations and with
international institutions. Some of those questions are good ones and long overdue, but there's also a danger. Hanging in the balance is the very relevance of the United Nations. This is a time, in short, to show the people reasons to support the U.N.
The Human Rights Council is so corrupt. Countries get on it to protect themselves, to make sure that the fingers never pointed at them instead of actually looking at what we need to be doing around the world. When you've got bad actors that actually
sit on the Human Rights Council, it makes you call into question what we're trying to do. I don't think the Human Rights Council has been effective. I'm trying to find value in the Human Rights Council. If I find it, I'll let you know.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on Trump Cabinet
Mar 29, 2017
Nikki Haley:
US is world's conscience; participation in UN reflects that
I came to the U.N. with the goal of showing the American people value for our investment in this institution. And when I say value, I'm not primarily talking about budgets. I'm talking about making the U.N. an effective tool on behalf of our values. The
United States is the moral conscience of the world. We will not walk away from this role, but we will insist that our participation in the U.N. honor and reflect this role.
The fact is, peace and security cannot be achieved in isolation from human rights. In case after case, human rights abuses are not the byproduct of conflict; they are the cause of conflict, or they are the fuel that feeds the conflict. Desperate people
subject to humiliation and abuse will inevitably resort to violence. People who are robbed of their humanity and dignity will inevitably want revenge. They are also vulnerable to manipulation or coercion by extremist groups.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on Trump Cabinet
Mar 29, 2017
Nikki Haley:
We will deal fairly with people who are fair to us
At the U.S. Mission, we're all about changing the culture and bringing positive energy to the United Nations. We've put accountability front and center. I have no tolerance for unmet promises and inaction. We demand that of ourselves and we expect it of
others. We're also having the backs of our allies, and we're not afraid to call out the governments that don't have our backs. We will deal fairly with the people who are fair with us. If not, all bets are off.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on Trump Cabinet
Mar 29, 2017
Joe Biden:
Intervention in Venezuela would turn S. America against US
If we decide that we are going to engage in covert action or overt military action, we would lose all of South America, increasing Maduro's hand and power, rather than diminishing it. We are working to make it clear that there is a serious price for
Venezuela to pay if they continue the oppression. We have made known directly to Maduro and his foreign ministry our overwhelming distaste for what he's doing and what we expect to happen.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Sep 21, 2016
Joe Biden:
Nation-building is key to winning over rural Afghanis
Roads bind people together. They allow farmers to get production to the market. They bring prices down and access to goods and service is up, and they connect people to their government, which is something we heard everywhere we went in rural
Afghanistan -- the need to give some reason as to why it would be beneficial to "connect," quote, to their government. How do you spell "hope" in Dhari or in Pashtu? A-s-p-h-a-l-t. Asphalt. That's how you spell hope, in my humble opinion.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Feb 25, 2008
Joe Biden:
Foreign policy needs informed consent of American people
My colleagues kid me. From the beginning of the effort on Iraq I would say -- and there's not a single one of my colleagues that don't occasionally remind me of this, I would say that one of the things
I think our generation learned is no matter how well informed, or brilliant a foreign policy is, it cannot be sustained without the informed -- say it again, "informed," informed consent of the American people. The informed consent.
Source: Council on Foreign Relations on 2020 candidates
Feb 25, 2008
Barack Obama:
Never has US had so much power & so little influence to lead
American leadership has been a mighty force for human progress. The steady march of democracy and free enterprise across the globe speaks to the steadfastness of our leadership and the power of our ideals. Today we face new and frightful challenges,
especially the threat of terror. Never has it been more important for American to lead wisely, to shrewdly project power and wield influence on behalf of liberty and security. Unfortunately, I fear our once great influence is waning, a victim of
misguided policies and impetuous actions. Never has the US possessed so much power, and never has the US had so little influence to lead.We still have the chance to correct recent missteps that have put our principles and legacy in question.
Indeed, it is imperative to our nation’s standing and security to do so. It will take a change of attitude and direction in our national leadership to restore the values and judgment that made and kept our nation the world’s beacon of hope and freedom.
Source: Speech to Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
Jul 12, 2004
Barack Obama:
US policy should promote democracy and human rights
In every region of the globe, our foreign policy should promote traditional American ideals: democracy and human rights; free and fair trade and cultural exchanges; and development of institutions that ensure broad middle classes within market economies.
It is our commonality of interests in the world that can ultimately restore our influence and win back the hearts and minds necessary to defeat terrorism and project American values around the globe.
Human aspirations are universal-for dignity, for freedom, for the opportunity to improve the lives of our families.
Let us recognize what unites us across borders and build on the strength of this blessed country.
Let us embrace our history and our legacy. Let us not only define our values in words and carry them out in deeds.
Source: Speech to Chicago Council on Foreign Relations
Jul 12, 2004
Howard Dean:
Integrate China as our international community partner
One priority should be strengthening our bonds with other countries, especially our historical allies in a world growing ever more interdependent. Conducting foreign policy by posse may be expedient, but it is short-sighted and far less stable
than a world order built on enduring relationships and viable international institutions.I would lead this country back to a strong commitment to international alliances and institutions that are the backbone of a stable international order.
In an increasingly complex and dangerous world, the more that our destinies are intertwined, the greater the shared sense of purpose, the more likely it is that we will work together successfully to address the difficult challenges ahead.
And we must do this not only with our traditional friends and allies in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa, but with such critical powers as Russia and China, both of whom must be fully integrated into the international community as our partners.
Source: Speech to Council on Foreign Relations
Jun 25, 2003
Howard Dean:
Intertwine into alliances, to create international stability
International alliances and institutions are the backbone of a stable international order. The more that our destinies are intertwined, the greater the shared sense of purpose,
the more we must work together successfully to address the difficult challenges ahead. We must fully integrate Russia and China into the international community as our partners.
Source: Speech to Council on Foreign Relations, Washington DC
Jun 25, 2003
Page last updated: Mar 16, 2022