Former Vice President Pence criticized former President Donald Trump and other Republican presidential candidates in a speech Monday, warning of growing support within the Republican Party for American isolationism.
Pence accused Trump and other Republicans of advocating a “dangerous form of isolationism” that amounts to “appeasement.”
“Some Republican candidates, including my former vice presidential nominee, are abandoning traditional conservative positions on foreign policy and embracing new and dangerous forms of isolationism,” the former vice president said in Washington. He made this statement while presenting his foreign policy platform at the Hudson Institute.
Mr. Pence’s criticism of his opponents followed a speech he gave earlier this month urging Republicans to stay true to traditional conservative principles rather than following Mr. Trump’s populism.
But the vice president’s speech also touched on specific issues facing the Republican Party, which has deepened its rift over U.S. aid to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression.
The House Republican minority opposes U.S. military and financial aid to Ukraine, but they are part of a larger group threatening a government shutdown and cutting aid to Kiev to curb federal spending. .
Trump, the leading Republican presidential candidate, has expressed skepticism about continued U.S. aid to Ukraine and said he intends to negotiate directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but what he will say to the Russian leader. Few details have been disclosed.
Mr. Pence targeted these Republicans as “appeasers,” saying that allowing them to withdraw aid to Ukraine would allow President Putin to seize control of the country and draw NATO into war. Ta.
“If I were president of the United States, I would give the Ukrainian people the resources they need to defeat and repel Russian aggression and regain their sovereignty,” Pence said in his speech.
Still, Pence maintained that Ukraine should not be invited to join NATO until Ukraine’s borders are fully restored, although outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. “There is a high hurdle for this,” he warned.
Mr. Zelenskyy and Eastern European NATO members insist that Ukraine join the alliance as soon as possible, making it the only guarantee for its future security.
“When you met me, [Ukrainian] President Zelensky, I think they understand that, and we have to wait until Russian aggression is eliminated,” Pence told The Hill after his speech.
“I think we need to continue to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to eliminate Russian aggression. Then, once we have peace, I strongly support welcoming them back.”
In his speech, the former vice president argued that curbing U.S. aid to Ukraine would embolden China, arguing that China is the bigger challenge and adding to voices promoting U.S. isolationism. I objected.
““You can be tough on China or you can be isolationist, but you can’t be both,” he said in a speech.
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