House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday outlined his vision for a foreign policy that unites the historic Republican vision of leadership in the world with former President Trump’s criticism that allies are explore US investments in defense.
Johnson, delivering his first comprehensive foreign policy speech at the Hudson Institute, called for “a U.S.-led America First coalition that advances the security interests of Americans and engages abroad with the interests of working families and businesses here at home.” , a coalition that is good for everyone.”
Speaking ahead of the NATO summit starting this week in Washington, Johnson repeated Trump’s criticisms focused on the nine NATO allies who had not yet spent 2% of their GDP on defense spending.
He called Canada’s new defense policy plan, which will increase defense spending to 1.76% by 2030, “shameful.”
“Speaking of following America’s lead, they have the security of being on our border,” he said while expressing support for the alliance, which is a frequent target of Trump’s ire.
“Republicans celebrate the peace and prosperity that NATO has ensured, and we will continue to support our partners as we avoid unnecessary wars,” Johnson said.
He also spoke about the importance of defending Taiwan — a departure from Trump’s ambiguity over whether the U.S. would defend the democratic, self-governing island, which faces aggression from China.
“If for no other reason, semiconductors,” Johnson said in response to a question about why it is important to America that Taiwan remains safe and secure.
“Imagine China being responsible for all semiconductor production in the world and controlling trade routes through this part of foreign trade, it is an unimaginable prospect. We defend people’s freedom, we defend freedom, it is important to defend the nation of Taiwan for all its merits, but it is also directly in our economic and stability interests.”
Still, Johnson cited the influence of former President Reagan’s approach to foreign policy of investing in a strong U.S. military and partnering with allies to deter threats from adversaries.
“Reagan said, ‘We are indeed, and are today, man’s last best hope on Earth,’” Johnson noted.
The mention is an appeal to the wing of Republicans in Congress who were the main influencers in Johnson’s decision to move forward with President Biden’s $95 billion national security supplement in April. Johnson had to overcome opposition from most Republicans to pass a bill providing military and economic aid to Ukraine, calling it a “Churchill or Chamberlain moment for our country.”
“I think we did the right thing,” Johnson said of the bill’s approval.
He also referred to Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “ruthless dictator” and spoke in support of continued aid to Ukraine to roll back Russia’s aggression as a benefit to the US and NATO.
“I think people who study these issues understand and there is a consensus that he would not stop in Kiev, but would settle on the border of Poland, the Baltic States, and we would be in a NATO situation and there might be a need for our own troops to defend these borders against invasion, it is a very, very serious moment.”
Johnson named America’s adversaries as a group of countries led by China – including Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela.
During his speech, he pledged to extend the mandate of the Chinese Communist Party’s House Select Committee into the next Congress, a bipartisan committee that managed to write the bill to ban TikTok and published a wide-ranging investigation into the Chinese government’s underwriting. export of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
Additionally, Johnson pledged to introduce a series of bills focused on countering China, including the BIOSECURE Act, to suspend federal contracts with biotechnology companies “tied to foreign adversaries.” The bill was introduced by former China Select Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and the committee’s ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
Johnson also spoke about increasing sanctions on Chinese military companies that supply material to Russia and Iran, and more restrictions on foreign investment into China.
And in a nod to Trump’s tariffs imposed on China during his administration, Johnson pledged to “control the de minimis privilege for any good subject to Section 301 trade enforcement tariffs to thwart China’s attempts to exploit American trade ”.
“China represents the greatest threat to global peace. Congress must maintain our focus on fighting China with every tool at our disposal,” Johnson said. “In the little time left in this Congress, the House will vote on a series of bills to enable the next administration to hit our enemies’ economies on day one.”
And in a bid for another term as speaker of the House if Republicans win the House in November, Johnson laid out priorities for the next Congress, including major spending cuts, “freeing up our energy sector,” a focus on border security and investing more in the military. .
“If we want to present a credible deterrent to our adversaries, we have to rebuild and at the same time be fiscally responsible,” he said.
“I can promise you that in 2025, spending reform will be a top priority for our new Republican majority. These will not be easy conversations, but they are essential to our long-term survival.”
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
