Focus on the Issues Series: Romney on foreign policy
Mitt Romney’s foreign policy views can best be explained through his comprehensive plan, “An American Century: A Strategy to Ensure America’s Enduring Interests and Ideals”.
The description of the plan can be found on the candidate’s official website, along with the transcript of a foreign policy speech made by Romney in October, his 44-page Foreign Policy White Paper, and specific descriptions of his policies in regards to specific countries and foreign governments.
“An American Century” features a core principle: that “when America is strong, the world is safer”. According to Romney, only US power can lay the foundation for a system that breeds safety and prosperity for our country and allies. The plan is based on four guiding principles:
1. Clarity and resolve—The US will be clear about their stances and will set the international policy agenda.
2. Supportive of open governments, human rights, and representative government—The US will forge alliances only with those countries that share these views.
3. Use hard and soft power to influence events before they reach conflict—Military will be a last resort. Diplomacy will be primary.
4. Leadership in multilateral organizations and alliances—America will work with other organizations to further shared values, but will retain the right to act alone for self-preservation.
The next component of the American Century plan deals with restoring what the campaign calls the “three foundations of American power”: strong values, a strong economy, and a strong military.
Strong values involve embracing America’s leadership role and staying true to Abraham Lincoln’s quote that the US is “the last best hope of earth”.
A strong economy encompasses the embracement of free market ideas and innovation to rebuild the US economy, thereby strengthening the nation’s role as a world leader.
As for a strong military, Romney will pour increased resources into the nation’s military to compensate for the large cuts made by Obama. He also plans to build up a multi-layered missile defense system to deter attacks on the country and its allies.
The plan next contains a country-by-country description of Romney’s foreign policy. Major points:
• China: Though there is the possibility of conflict in the future due to the country’s rising power, the US will pursue policies that promote cooperation, economic opportunity, and democratic freedom.
• Middle East/Arab Spring: US will support groups and governments that advance values of representative government, economic opportunity, and human rights, and will oppose jihadist groups.
• Russia: The US will discourage expansionist behavior by Russia and will encourage democratic political and economic reform. The candidate will confront the Russian government over its authoritarian practices.
The plan then lays out “Eight Actions for the First Hundred Days”:
1. Restore America’s naval credibility.
2. Strengthen relationships with steadfast allies.
3. Enhance our deterrent against Iran.
4. Commit to a robust national missile defense system.
5. Establish single point of all soft power resources in Middle East so that Arab Spring “realizes its promise”.
6. Launch campaign for economic opportunity in Latin America.
7. Order interagency initiative on cyber security.
Repeated throughout the plan is the underlying principle that “a strong America is the best ally world peace has ever known”. Romney’s foreign policy stance is firmly centered on the belief that only a powerful, prosperous, and united America makes a safe world.
Samantha Glavin is a Spring 2012 Paste BN College Correspondent. Learn more about her here.
This story originally appeared on the Paste BN College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.