“An
American Century: A Strategy to Secure America’s Enduring Interests and
Ideals”
The
Constitution places responsibility for national defense and foreign
relations on the shoulders of the president. The president must have
the judgment, vision, wisdom, and leadership qualities to understand
the looming threats our nation faces and the course of action he will
pursue. This White Paper explains the threats to our nation’s interests
and ideals, sets out Mitt Romney’s foreign policy strategy and
principles, and discusses his policies on some of the most significant
challenges facing the United States.
To View Foreign
Policy White Paper Please See:
http://mi.tt/rlfG42
The Threatening Trends Facing America
America faces a bewildering array of
threats and opportunities.
Nations with Rising Ambitions: Powerful
countries
such as China and Russia are growing in strength and seeking
their place in the sun. Their economic success and rising power could
contribute significantly to the health of an international system built
on economic and political freedom. But it also could help unravel such
a system. The authoritarian character of China and Russia already
propel those countries to engage in behavior that undermines
international security.
Radical Islamic Jihadism:
Radical Islam poses a multifaceted challenge. It poses a direct terror
threat to our homeland and to our allies. Jihadists seek to exploit
fragile states across the world as safe havens from which to plan and
launch attacks or to tip those nations into theocratic revolutions. In
a world in which weapons of mass destruction can fall into the wrong
hands, the United States faces a set of national security dilemmas that
are as urgent as they are complex.
Struggle for the Greater Middle East:
The broader Middle East is caught up in profound turmoil. This
geostrategically important region—the cradle of the world’s major
faiths—holds populations striving to break free from the stasis of
authoritarian rule. It holds other populations suffering under the boot
of dictatorships and/or locked in sectarian strife. It contains states
too weak to police or protect themselves. It is the world’s primary
flash point for nuclear proliferation. It poses a constant risk of
catastrophic war that could take millions of lives and plunge the world
economy into chaos.
Failed and Failing States:
Failed or failing states, like Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and
Pakistan are wracked by poverty, disease, internal strife, refugees,
drugs, and crime. They are or can become safe-havens for terrorists,
pirates, and other kinds of criminal networks. Their problems regularly
spill across borders turning internal problems into regional and even
global ones.
Rogue Nations:
The rogue nations of the world—Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and
Cuba—are diametrically opposed to American interests and values and
they threaten international peace and security in numerous ways,
including, as in the case of North Korea and Iran, by seeking nuclear
weapons, or by harboring criminal networks, exporting weapons, and
sponsoring terrorists. They deny their people the human dignity and
well-being offered by economic opportunity and political freedom. They
can be the source of intense regional conflict that can spread and
endanger the peace of the world.
Mitt
Romney’s Strategy
The
threats we face are complex, but the one unifying thread that forms
Mitt Romney’s strategy to address them is this: when America is strong,
the world is safer. It is only American power—conceived in the broadest
terms—that can provide the foundation for an international system that
ensures the security and prosperity of the United States and our
friends and allies.
Guiding Principles
First,
a Romney foreign policy will proceed with clarity and resolve. Our
friends and allies will not have doubts about where we stand and what
we will do to safeguard our interests and theirs. Neither will our
rivals, competitors, and adversaries. As the world’s greatest power,
the United States will strive to set the international policy agenda,
create a predictable economic and security environment that enables
other countries to develop policies that are in conformity with our
own, and minimize those occasions in which the United States is
confronted by instability and surprise.
Second,
a Romney administration will seek to maintain and advance an
international system that is congenial to the institutions of open
markets, representative government, and respect for human rights.
History teaches that nations that share our values will be more
reliable U.S. partners and will tend to stand together in pursuit of
common security and shared prosperity.
Third,
a Romney administration will apply the full spectrum of hard and soft
power to influence events before they erupt into conflict. Resort to
force is always the least desirable option, the costliest in resources
and human life. A Romney administration will therefore employ all the
tools of statecraft to shape the outcome of threatening situations
before they demand military action. Though the use of armed force will
never be off the table when the safety of America is at stake, a Romney
administration will take a comprehensive approach to America’s security
challenges.
Fourth,
a Romney administration will exercise leadership in multilateral
organizations and alliances. American leadership lends credibility and
breeds faith in the ultimate success of any action, facilitating the
participation not only of allies but others who are sitting on the
sidelines. American leadership will also focus multilateral
institutions like the United Nations on achieving the substantive goals
of democracy and human rights enshrined in their charters. While
America should work with others to advance our interests and values,
America will always reserve the right to act alone to protect our vital
interests.
Restoring the Sinews of American Power
Mitt Romney will restore the three
foundations of American power: strong values, a strong economy, and a
strong military.
Strong Values:
Some believe America is declining and no longer possesses the resources
or the moral authority to play a leadership role in the world. They do
not see an international system undergirded by American values of
economic and political freedom as necessarily superior to a world
system organized by multilateral organizations like the United Nations.
Mitt Romney rejects the philosophy of decline in all of its variants.
He believes that a strong America is the best guarantor of peace and
the best patron of liberty the world has ever known. The “last best
hope of earth” was what Abraham Lincoln called our country. Mitt Romney
believes in fulfilling the promise of Lincoln’s words and will defend
America abroad in word and in deed.
Strong Economy:
A strong economy is vital to our ability to deter military threats and
forge an international system based on liberal economic and political
values. But today we find the American economy in serious trouble.
Unemployment is over 9 percent, far above the post-war monthly average
of 5.6 percent, and it has been over 8 percent for 31 consecutive
months, the longest such spell in modern history. In the book he
released last month, Believe in America, Mitt Romney laid out a
vision for rebuilding the foundations of the American economy on the
principles of free enterprise, hard work, and innovation. An
economically resurgent America on a sound fiscal footing will be in far
better position to credibly deter our rivals, reassure our allies, and
strengthen our overall influence abroad.
Strong Military:
American military power is vital to the preservation of our own
security and peace around the world. But President Obama has put
us on
course toward a “hollow” force. He has already cut the projected
defense budget by $350 billion over the next twelve years and he has
sought further cuts over the same period. He agreed to a budget process
that may cut another $600 billion. To reverse this trend, Mitt Romney
will:
·
Reverse Obama-era
defense spending cuts and set a core defense spending floor of 4% of
GDP.
·
Find efficiencies
in the Department of Defense procurement process and non-force staff to
reinvest in the force.
·
In
his first 100 days, put our Navy on the path to increase its
shipbuilding rate from nine per year to approximately fifteen per year.
·
Modernize
and replace the aging inventories of the Air Force, Army, and Marines,
and selectively strengthen our force structure.
·
In
his first 100 days, begin reversing Obama-era cuts to missile defense
and commit to a robust multi-layered national ballistic-missile defense
system to deter and defend against nuclear attacks on our homeland and
our allies.
China
While
the potential for conflict with an authoritarian China could rise as
its power grows, the United States must pursue policies designed to
encourage Beijing to embark on a course that makes conflict less likely
and continues to allow cooperation with the United States, economic
opportunity, and democratic freedom to flourish across East Asia. Mitt
Romney will implement a strategy that makes the path of regional
hegemony for China far more costly than the alternative path of
becoming a responsible partner in the international system. Mitt Romney
will:
·
Maintain
robust military capabilities in the Pacific. Maintaining a strong
military presence in the Pacific is not an invitation to conflict, but
a guarantee that trade routes remain open and East Asia’s community of
nations remains secure and prosperous.
·
Deepen
cooperation among regional partners like India and build stronger ties
to influential countries like Indonesia. Strong cooperation among
countries with whom we share a concern about China’s growing power and
increasing assertiveness will help maintain freedom of navigation and
ensure that disputes over resources are resolved by peaceful means.
·
Pursue
deeper economic cooperation with nations around the world through a
“Reagan Economic Zone.” This zone will codify principles of free trade
and draw in an expanding circle of nations seeking greater access to
other markets. Offering Beijing the possibility of participation will
give China significant incentives to end its abusive commercial
practices. The zone will also knit together the entire region,
discourage imbalanced bilateral trade relations between China and its
neighbors, limit China’s ability to coerce its neighbors, and
ultimately will encourage China to participate in free trade on fair
terms.
·
Defend
human rights. Any serious policy must confront the fact that
China’s
Communist regime continues to deny its people basic political freedoms
and human rights. A nation that represses its own people cannot be a
trusted partner in an international system based on economic and
political freedom. A Romney administration will encourage the evolution
of China toward a more politically open and democratic order. It will
support and engage civil society groups within China that are promoting
democratic reform, anti-corruption efforts, religious freedom, and
women’s and minority rights. It will look to provide these groups and
the Chinese people with greater access to information and communication
through a stronger Internet freedom initiative.
Middle East / Arab Spring
The
Greater Middle East is experiencing the most dramatic change since the
collapse of the Ottoman Empire. The protests that have broken out
across the Arab world bespeak a generational yearning for a better life
and for human dignity and present an opportunity for profoundly
positive change. But the ongoing revolution is double-edged. Iran and
Islamist extremists are seeking to influence events and expand their
control. The future of democratic institutions in the region hangs in
the balance. To protect our enduring national interests and to promote
our ideals, a Romney administration will pursue a strategy of
supporting groups and governments across the Middle East to advance the
values of representative government, economic opportunity, and human
rights and opposing any extension of Iranian or jihadist influence. In
his first 100 days, Mitt Romney will engage Congress to organize all
diplomatic and assistance efforts in the greater Middle East under one
Regional Director with unified budgetary and directive authority. One
official with responsibility and accountability will set regional
priorities and train our soft power on ensuring the Arab Spring
realizes its promise.
Israel:
Israel is the United States’ closest ally in the Middle East but its
security problems are heightened in these times. In his first 100 days,
Mitt Romney will reaffirm as a vital U.S. national interest the
existence of Israel as a Jewish state. To ensure Israel’s security,
Mitt Romney will work closely with Israel to maintain its strategic
military edge. The U.S. will work intensively with Turkey and Egypt to
shore up the now fraying relationships with Israel that have
underpinned peace in the Middle East for decades. With regard to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mitt Romney will reject any measure that
would frustrate direct negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians. He will make clear to the Palestinians that the
unilateral attempt to decide issues that are designated for final
negotiations is unacceptable. The United States will reduce assistance
to the Palestinians if they continue to pursue United Nations
recognition or form a unity government that includes Hamas, a terrorist
group dedicated to Israel’s destruction.
Immediate Post-Revolutionary States:
Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya:
Nations in transition to new governmental structures are threatened by
destabilizing jihadist forces and Iranian backed elements seeking to
exploit the upheaval to make political inroads. A Romney administration
will support those individuals and groups that are seeking to instill
lasting democratic values and build sturdy democratic institutions.
Mitt Romney will make available technical assistance to transitional
governments to promote democracy, good governance, and sound financial
management. He will convene a summit that brings together world
leaders, donor groups, and young leaders of civil society groups that
espouse these values.
Syria:
The United States must recognize Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad for
what he is: a vicious dictator, a killer, and a proxy for Iran. Mitt
Romney believes the United States should pursue a strategy of isolating
and pressuring the regime to increase likelihood of a peaceful
transition to a legitimate government. We should redouble our push for
the UN Security Council to live up to its responsibilities and impose
sanctions. We should work with Saudi Arabia and Turkey to call on
Syria’s military to protect civilians rather than attack them and
increase the possibility that the ruling minority Alawites will be able
to reconcile with the majority Sunni population in a post-Assad Syria.
And we should make clear that the United States and our allies will
support the Syrian opposition when the time comes for them to forge a
post-Assad government.
Iraq:
U.S. military and diplomatic personnel have made stunning gains in
Iraq. But in light of reported draw down of troops to levels far below
what military commanders recommend, it is impossible to forecast what
conditions in Iraq will confront the next American president in January
2013. Mitt Romney will enter office seeking to use the broad array of
our foreign-policy tools—diplomatic, economic, and military—to
establish a lasting relationship with Iraq and guarantee that Baghdad
remains a solid partner in a volatile and strategically vital region.
Iran
Mitt
Romney believes that it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear
weapon. Mitt Romney’s objective will be to end Iran’s pursuit of a
nuclear weapon, eliminate the threat of Iranian nuclear terrorism
against the United States and our allies, and prevent nuclear
proliferation across the Middle East. He will:
·
In
his first 100 days, make clear that the military option is on the table
by ordering the regular presence of an aircraft carrier task force in
both the Eastern Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf region
simultaneously. He will also begin talks with Israel to increase
military coordination and assistance and enhance intelligence sharing.
·
Increase
military coordination with Arab allies in the region and conduct more
naval exercises in the region as a demonstration of strength and
resolve.
·
Implement
tougher sanctions. Mitt Romney will focus new sanctions on the
financial institutions that underpin the Iranian regime and its
Revolutionary Guard Corps and on their commercial activities. He will
pursue sanctions on firms that transport such products to and from
Iran.
·
Step
up enforcement of existing U.S. laws that bar commerce with Iran, such
as the exportation of refined petroleum products to Iran.
·
Increase diplomatic
isolation of Iran and work to indict Ahmadinejad for incitement to
genocide under the Genocide Convention.
·
Support
the Iranian opposition by improving the flow of information to the
Iranian population about its own government’s repressive activities and
refusing to stand silent while the Iranian regime ruthlessly terrorizes
its own people.
·
Commit
to the on-time completion of a fully capable missile defense system in
Eastern Europe on the current timeline, but retain the option of
reverting to President Bush's swifter plan if Iran is making faster
progress on developing long range missiles or if new technologies on
which the current plan relies fail to materialize in a timely fashion.
Mitt Romney will deny Russia any control or veto over the system.
North Korea
Mitt
Romney will commit to eliminating North Korea’s nuclear weapons and its
nuclear-weapons infrastructure. He will make it clear that continued
advancement of its nuclear program will be punished instead of
rewarded. Mitt Romney will:
·
Work
with allies to institute harsher sanctions on North Korea, such as
cracking down on financial institutions that service the North Korean
regime and sanctioning companies that conduct commercial shipping in
and out of North Korea.
·
Step up enforcement
of the Proliferation Security Initiative to constrain North Korean
illicit exports.
·
Work
to persuade China to commit to North Korea’s disarmament. Mitt Romney
will discuss with China how the international community will address
the humanitarian and security issues that will arise should North Korea
disintegrate. And by reinvigorating our military and
counter-proliferation relationships with South Korea, Japan, and others
regional allies, he will demonstrate to the Chinese that they should
join the coordinated effort or be left behind.
Afghanistan & Pakistan
Our
mission in Afghanistan is to eliminate al Qaeda from the region and
degrade the Taliban and other insurgent groups to the point where they
are not existential threats to the Afghan government and do not
destabilize Pakistan. Our objective is to ensure that Afghanistan will
never again become a launching pad for terror. Mitt Romney will:
·
In
his first 100 days, order a full interagency review of our transition
in Afghanistan. He will review our military and assistance presence to
determine the level required to secure our gains and to train Afghan
forces to the point where they can protect the sovereignty of
Afghanistan on their own. Withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan
under a Romney administration will be based on conditions on the ground
as assessed by our military commanders.
·
Work
with the Afghan government and Pakistan and use U.S. leverage to ensure
that those nations are fully contributing to the success of our
mission. He will make clear to Afghan President Hamid Karzai that our
commitment must be met with reciprocal efforts to crack down on
corruption in his government, respect free and fair elections as
required by the Afghan constitution, and coordinate with the United
States on fighting the narcotics trade that fuels the insurgency.
Pakistan should understand that any connection between insurgent forces
and Pakistan’s security and intelligence forces must be severed.
Latin America
Venezuela
and Cuba lead a virulently anti-American “Bolivarian” movement across
Latin America that seeks to undermine institutions of democratic
governance and economic opportunity. The region is also witnessing an
epidemic of violent criminal gangs and drug cartels. A Romney
administration will pursue an active role in Latin America by
supporting democratic allies and market-based economic relationships,
containing destabilizing internal forces such as criminal gangs and
terrorists, and opposing destabilizing outside influences such as Iran.
Mitt Romney will:
·
In
his first 100 days, launch a vigorous public diplomacy and trade
promotion effort in the region—the Campaign for Economic Opportunity in
Latin America (CEOLA)—to encourage trade and investment between the
United States and Latin America and draw a stark contrast between the
virtues of democracy and free trade and the ills of the authoritarian
socialist model offered by Cuba and Venezuela.
·
Build
on separate existing anti-drug and counterterrorism initiatives to form
a unified Hemispheric Joint Task Force on Crime and Terrorism to
coordinate intelligence and enforcement among allies to combat regional
terrorist groups and criminal networks and sever connections to foreign
terrorist entities like Hezbollah.
·
Explore
with Mexico, in his first 100 days, the need for enhanced
military-to-military training cooperation and intelligence sharing to
combat drug cartels and criminal gangs. Mitt Romney will complete a
border fence protecting our southern frontier from infiltration by
illegal immigrants, trans-national criminal networks, and terrorists.
Russia
Mitt
Romney will reset President Obama’s “Reset” with Russia. He will
implement a strategy to discourage aggressive or expansionist behavior
on the part of Russia and encourage democratic political and economic
reform. He will:
·
Review
the implementation of the New START treaty and other decisions by the
Obama administration regarding America's nuclear posture and
arms-control policies to determine whether they serve the best
interests and national security of the United States.
·
Pursue
policies to reduce Europe’s reliance on Russian sources of energy. He
will explore increasing technical assistance to the Eastern European
nations currently developing the Turkey-to-Austria Nabucco natural gas
pipeline and work with the private sector to spur access to untapped
shale energy resources in Western Europe.
·
Deter
Russian ambitions to its south by enhancing diplomatic ties, increasing
military training and assistance, and negotiating trade pacts and
educational exchanges with Central Asian states.
·
Forthrightly
confront the Russian government over its authoritarian practices. Mitt
Romney will increase the flow of information into Russia that
highlights the virtues of freedom and a government free of corruption.
He will bring more leaders of Russian civil society to the United
States on exchange programs.
Diplomatic & National Security
Institutions
Mitt
Romney will empower our diplomatic, assistance, and national security
institutions to best secure our enduring national interests and ideals.
Reorganize Diplomatic &
Assistance Agencies: To
foster regional strategic planning that focuses our soft power
resources to solve 21st
century regional problems, Mitt Romney will work with Congress and
relevant executive branch agencies to place unified budgetary and
directive authority under one official responsible for all diplomatic
and assistance programs within a particular region. These will be
designed to mirror the regional military combatant commands.
Train Counterterrorism Resources on
Emerging Threats: Mitt Romney
will ensure that our counterterrorism resources are effectively trained
on emerging asymmetric threats. He will:
·
In
his first 100 days, order a full interagency initiative to formulate a
unified national strategy to deter and defend against the growing
threats of militarized cyber-attacks, cyber-terrorism, cyber-espionage,
and private-sector intellectual property theft. U.S. defense and
intelligence resources must be fully engaged in this critical aspect of
national defense.
·
Order
an initiative to combat the radicalization of U.S. citizens and
residents that leads to homegrown terrorism. Mitt Romney will
redouble
efforts to work with state and local authorities to share intelligence
“vertically.” He will bolster efforts to collect and monitor
communications between terrorist networks abroad and people within our
borders. He will enhance partnerships with Muslim-American communities
to identify threats and suspicious activity, and develop our database
of knowledge about the hallmarks of radicalization and recruitment. He
will also require that any counterterrorism strategy must contain
measures to preserve privacy and our constitutional rights.
Clarify Legislative Mandates to
Protect America:
Mitt Romney will work with Congress to clarify the legal authorities
and oversight structure for our counterterrorism professionals. He will:
·
Update
the chief source of statutory authority for the war on terrorism to
authorize the use of force against any foreign terrorist entity that is
waging war against the United States.
·
Work
with Congress to unify the over 108 authorizing committees in Congress
that oversee the Department of Homeland Security. This will free-up DHS
resources currently spent on reporting to these committees and clear up
the inconsistent legislative mandates and priorities issued to DHS.
*
* *
Mitt
Romney’s comprehensive strategy has this principle at its core: a
strong America is the best ally world peace has ever known. President
Reagan called this “Peace through Strength,” and that phrase remains
just as true today. Mitt Romney rejects the narrative that America is
in decline. Decline is a choice. Mitt Romney will strive to ensure that
the 21st century is an American Century.
Setting a New
Tone: Eight Actions for the First Hundred Days
1.
Restore
America’s Naval Credibility
Announce
an initiative to increase the naval shipbuilding rate from nine per
year to approximately fifteen per year and sustain the carrier fleet at
eleven. This will restore America’s presence and credibility on the
high seas with a view toward deterring aggressive behavior and
maintaining the peace.
2.
Strengthen
and Repair Relationships with Steadfast Allies
Take
swift measures to restore and enhance relationships with our most
steadfast allies. Actions include reaffirming as a vital national
interest Israel’s existence as Jewish state, declaring the U.S.-U.K.
special relationship to be a foundation for peace and liberty, and
beginning talks to strengthen cooperation with Mexico on the shared
problem of drugs and security.
3.
Enhance Our
Deterrent Against Iran
Reaffirm
that Iran’s possession of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. Order the
regular presence of a carrier task force in both the Eastern
Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf region. Begin discussions with
Israel to increase levels of military and intelligence coordination and
assistance.
4.
Commit to a
Robust National Missile Defense System
Begin
process of reversing Obama-era budget cuts to national missile defense
and raise to a top priority the full deployment of a multilayered
national ballistic-missile defense system.
5.
Establish a
Single Point of Responsibility for All Soft Power Resources in the
Middle East
Work
with Congress and relevant Executive branch agencies to organize all
diplomatic and assistance efforts in the greater Middle East under one
Regional Director with unified budgetary and directive authority. One
official with responsibility and accountability will set regional
priorities and direct our soft power toward ensuring the Arab Spring
realizes its promise.
6.
Launch
Campaign for Economic Opportunity in Latin America
Capitalize
on the benefits arising from the pending ratification of the Colombian
and Panamanian free trade agreements to launch a robust
public-diplomacy and trade promotion campaign in Latin America that
contrasts the benefits of democracy, free trade, and economic
opportunity with the ills caused by the authoritarian model of
Venezuela and Cuba.
7.
Conduct a
Full Review of Our Transition in Afghanistan
Conduct
a full interagency review of our military and assistance presence in
Afghanistan to determine the presence necessary to secure our gains and
successfully complete our mission. The review will involve discussions
with generals on the ground and the delivery of the best
recommendations of our military commanders.
8.
Order
Interagency Initiative on Cybersecurity
Order
a full interagency initiative to formulate a unified national strategy
to deter and defend against the growing threats of militarized
cyber-attacks, cyber-terrorism, cyber-espionage, and private-sector
intellectual property theft. U.S. defense and intelligence resources
must be fully engaged in this critical aspect of national defense.
###