Outgoing Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) said Sunday on ABC's “This Week” that President-elect Donald Trump's foreign policy comments are hurting U.S. credibility globally. .
A partial transcription follows:
Jonathan Karl: President-elect Trump's threat to take back control of the Panama Canal is one of several provocative statements he has made in recent weeks regarding his territorial ambitions. includes multiple jabs at Canada's prime minister and hints that Canada could become a 51st province. And there's more talk about the occupation of Greenland. For more information, talk to Ben Cardin, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of Maryland, who is retiring after three terms in the Senate. So, Senator Cardin, first of all, are you taking this story seriously? I mean, you heard him say that if he suggested he would take back control of the Panama Canal. Is that possible?
Cardin: Well, Jonathan, this is a significant statement that has implications for America's credibility worldwide. Our allies don't know if we are reliable partners. Panama Canal obligations were established by this treaty ratified by Congress and the United States Senate. So we don't know what the next president is saying about how honest he is, but what we can say is that it's raising questions globally about whether we're reliable partners. And that has a lot to do with Russia and China's appeals to other countries about whether they should form an alliance and whether America will be there for them around the world.
We saw similar statements made during the previous administration, when he threatened to withdraw from NATO. These are treaty obligations that allies rely on, raising serious concerns about whether the United States will work together on their behalf.
Carl: So he's been talking a lot about Canada, and he's – I mean, obviously there's – there's a threat of new tough tariffs, but – Canada could become the 51st state. The trolls are hinting that it's sexual. , he's obviously not serious, right?
Cardan: Well, there's no way Canada will be the 51st province. So, I mean, the statement that he's effectively doing that, it's not going to happen, that's correct.
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