Manchester, New Hampshire – In a speech to the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, 70th Secretary of State Mike Pompeo praised President Trump’s strikes on Iran and called out isolationists on the right and left for abandoning U.S. global leadership.
“America reasserted its global leadership,” Secretary Pompeo said. “We didn’t send the 82nd airborne – we sent America.”
In remarks and a moderated discussion, Secretary Pompeo argued for the importance of America’s security and economic partnerships to delivering a safer, freer, and more prosperous future for all Americans.
“For four years [when I was CIA Director and Secretary of State] we had no wars. It wasn’t because we were peaceniks and isolationists, it was because of our understanding of the things that matter to America.”
On the question of whether an “America First” foreign policy is inherently isolationist, Secretary Pompeo remarked, “I hear stories of President Trump being an isolationist, but in four years I didn’t see it. I saw a model of deterrence that has served our nation.”
Asked about the split within the Republican Party on U.S. support for Ukraine, Secretary Pompeo argued, “We have to win… the West needs to be prepared to actually win, Ukraine needs to win, Europe needs to win… President Zelensky has never asked for an American soldier to risk his life in [Ukraine]; he has asked us to stand with him and give them what they need to [win].
Expanding on the consequences of the Iran strikes for authoritarian regimes beyond Iran, Secretary Pompeo remarked: “I do know without any doubt: Chairman Kim [Jong Un] is sitting a little less comfortably on his throne today.” He further commented that the bold action to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions would be reassuring to Taiwan as it demonstrated America’s willingness to use force to protect its national interests.
Addressing the announcement by NATO leaders that member states had committed to a five percent defense spending goal, Secretary Pompeo said that he was “… heartened to see President Trump with the leaders of NATO, having changed the nature of that organization, and having convinced our allies that they have a job to do.”