Presidential Candidates Announce Their Foreign Policies
By: Oliver Straight Nissen
With the upcoming United States presidential election, it is important to understand how each candidate will approach foreign policy. With both the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts breaking out in the last three years and the United States playing a central part in global politics, choosing the candidate with the strongest plan to maintain peace is crucial. Donald Trump firmly supports Israel and aims to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine. Kamala Harris backs Israel and a two-state solution, and pledges to continue U.S. aid to Ukraine. In general, there are aspects of each candidate’s policies that will benefit the U.S. and its interests.
In the past months, tensions in the Middle East have grown drastically. The heightened Israel-Palestine conflict started a year ago with no clear end in sight. Over this period, Israel and Hamas have launched countless attacks, and other organizations have also become involved in the conflict. For example, the Houthis in Yemen have fired missiles at Israel, and Israel has attacked Hezbollah in Lebanon, where they recently killed former secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah using air strikes. Thus, electing the next U.S. president with an effective plan to handle these conflicts is crucial for global stability. Trump has fully backed Israel and aims to broker a regional peace deal. On the other hand, Harris, although also supporting Israel, acknowledges that Palestinian civilians have suffered. This stance puts her in a position to cover her bases, as many Democrats have spoken out against the damage Israel has caused in Gaza. Harris also calls for a two-state solution, but with Israel’s and Palestine’s convoluted history, the practicality of such an idea is unclear. It is also unclear how either candidate will negotiate with Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, as there has been limited discussion of the issue during the debates, and escalations between the groups and Israel are constantly happening. Although both of these policies generally support Israel, Trump provides a clearer message on this issue to American voters.
The other significant current foreign policy issue is the Russia-Ukraine War. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and since then, the war’s momentum has shifted back and forth. The United States sees Russia’s direct involvement in the conflict as a means to weaken Russia’s global influence. Harris strongly backs Ukraine, saying the U.S. will support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” and will send tens of billions in weapons and other equipment if she is elected president. Harris’s plan for Ukraine will maintain a war with Russia and deplete its resources but will reroute taxpayer money overseas during a crucial time for the American economy. In contrast, Trump has asserted that he will not send aid to Ukraine on the grounds that the European countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have not pulled their weight in sending aid. Trump intends to use money that would otherwise go to Ukraine for domestic purposes, but his confrontational statement only hurts U.S. foreign relations with its European allies at a time when the U.S. needs strong alliances more than ever. Harris opposes Trump’s isolationist stance and has been supportive of arming the U.S.’s allies throughout her vice presidency, during which she has met with the NATO, Quad (Japan, India, and Australia), and AUKUS (Australia and the United Kingdom) alliances. Trump also hopes to quickly resolve the conflict by reopening negotiations: “If I were president, I will end that war in one day. I know Zelensky well. I know Putin well.” Although Trump offers a clearer and quicker end to the war, he plays a much riskier game in doing so, as there is no guarantee that both Russia and Ukraine will agree to terms.
The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine have been in the spotlight for a few years, and headlines appear about a new attack daily. The world is entering into seemingly darker times, but this U.S. presidential election offers a chance for the world to pivot. Trump offers a strong stance with quick solutions. However, quick fixes are not always the most sustainable. Harris is seemingly maintaining what Joe Biden has already executed with his administration. Trump offers change, while Harris offers continuity. Whoever is elected, Trump or Kamala, global peace rests with them.
Leave a Reply