Issue Position: Restore American Leadership

Issue Position

Develop Capability, Capacity, and Will. We must clearly demonstrate that we have the capability, capacity, and will to confront our enemies and eliminate threats to our national security. Retreating into isolationism only makes us weaker and less secure. By convincing our enemies that we are ready and willing to use the full range of options at our disposal to defeat them, including military options when necessary, we actually reduce the need to deploy our military while making our nation more secure. We must also not repeat President Obama's dangerous mistake of clearly communicating red lines for our enemies and then failing to act when those lines are crossed. Empty threats embolden our enemies and demoralize our allies.

Repair Key Relationships. Many of our closest allies have been alienated or disregarded during the Obama years. Our friends and would-be partners have seen that our enemies get better treatment and more serious regard than those who have stood with us. They question our loyalty and our commitment to lead, and as a result, have good reason to doubt the benefits of working together in common purpose. It is time to re-engage with our allies and demonstrate renewed commitment to global security, stability, and prosperity.

Provide a Unified Strategy. The consequences of President Obama's failure to present a coherent, comprehensive strategy for securing our interests and our values around the world are widespread. Leading from behind has been a foreign policy disaster. The resulting chaos and instability can be found in virtually every corner of the globe, from Libya to Syria to Ukraine to the South China Sea. We need a president who will clearly articulate a unified, global strategy for enhancing our security and our leadership role in a dangerous world, rather than merely react to crises with minimal and disjointed efforts.

Support Those Who Fight Back. We have allies who are actively combating the aggressions of dictatorial powers that are hostile to the U.S. From pro-Western Ukrainians combatting Vladimir Putin's land grab and continued agitations on sovereign soil to moderate Syrian rebels who are fighting Bashar al Assad's murderous regime, there are a number of groups that need and deserve our support. Our economic, political, and military aid could be the decisive factor in these conflicts and would provide an efficient way to confront threats to our national security without placing a high burden on U.S. troops or taxpayers.

Utilize Development and Diplomacy. By providing funding for cost-effective international aid programs and committing to strong diplomatic efforts, we will help to minimize national security threats and reduce the need to deploy our military forces in the long run. Economic development and the promotion of democracy and human rights are stabilizing forces that help to provide alternatives to radicalism and prevent the rise of terrorist safe havens in failing states. These efforts, when combined with effective diplomacy and backed by strong military might, constitute an effective tool in improving both our security and our leadership position in the world.

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