Forty-two years ago, Ronald Reagan spoke in Orlando, urging nations to resist the “evil empire,” telling them to remain committed to the struggle between good and evil. Here we are, decades later, and while a lot has changed, the threat to nations that cherish freedom seems to have increased.
We still find ourselves alongside countries that support democracy, human rights, and economic freedom—like Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela—all of which undermine the rights granted to their citizens.
On May 9th, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will appear together in Red Square, celebrating Russian troops and their victory in World War II. It’s crucial for countries that value democracy and freedom not to stand with them, so attention should be paid to who’s present at that event.
Putin’s Russia, along with other malevolent forces, actively seeks to exploit citizens globally. It’s no secret that he aims to recapture the global power reminiscent of the Soviet era. Xi Jinping and his regime in China are pursuing world dominance through economic coercion, which is alarming, transforming profits into surveillance and oppression. Then there’s Iran, openly backing terrorist groups while attacking innocent people. North Korea has also been involved, supplying troops for Russia’s Ukraine invasion, alongside the oppressive regimes in Venezuela, Cuba, and Nicaragua, all playing their part in this global scheme. Some nations, like Hungary, may act as if they align with the U.S., but, in reality, they still support Putin and work to protect Russia from sanctions.
So, it’s quite evident that there are groups that embrace Putin and Xi, while others fight against these oppressive regimes, defending our way of life. It’s a clear-cut difference: good versus evil.
A while back, I pointed out that Communist China had initiated a new Cold War against the United States. I warned about the risks of believing that our adversaries would adhere to the modern world order. I encouraged allies to acknowledge this danger and called on our government to display strength and commitment to our freedom-loving allies. We made progress during Trump’s first term.
Unfortunately, my concerns about the Biden administration’s ability to confront growing threats have been confirmed. The adversaries took advantage of perceived weaknesses, exploiting every opportunity to undermine U.S. interests, creating chaos worldwide, including the invasion of sovereign nations.
Trump inherited this tumult, but he’s been working tirelessly to reverse the Biden administration’s detrimental course and restore U.S. strength on the global stage. His message is clear: the U.S. stands for freedom, democracy, and fairness, and any opposition is a direct challenge to us.
He has already taken steps to combat abuses by Communist China. He and Secretary of State Marco Rubio acted decisively against Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, stripping him of resources, while applying heavy pressure on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. They also rolled back the risky policies adopted by the Biden administration concerning Cuba. Trump aims for peace in Ukraine, maintaining sanctions on Putin and exploring military aid options.
During my recent trip to Finland, Estonia, and Denmark, I saw firsthand the allies on the front lines against Russian aggression. These nations have stepped up their defense commitments, meeting and exceeding NATO standards, encouraged by Trump. Even Germany has begun revitalizing its military, recently reaching its 2% GDP defense goal for the first time in almost 35 years. However, a lack of self-defense commitment can hinder U.S. efforts to protect them.
This struggle between good and evil transcends traditional military confrontations; it also encompasses economic warfare. We must end policies that inadvertently bolster our adversaries by increasing their economic strength. We need to make these foes global outcasts, or else safety for the U.S. and its allies is at risk.
The United States will always stand with freedom and democracy. This isn’t just a noble fight; it’s a vital one. We remain opposed to those who threaten our existence, and I’m keenly observing which countries align with us on May 9th in Red Square.
