WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, published an op-ed about the Munich Security Conference and the importance of standing with our allies to address pressing challenges.
Munich reminds us the U.S. must stand with, not alienate, our allies
By Chris Coons
I recently returned from a gathering of the world’s top security officials in Munich, Germany, deeply concerned about America’s standing in the world.
Last month, I joined more than 50 senators and representatives at the Munich Security Conference. The annual gathering began in 1963, during the height of the Cold War, to bring Americans and their transatlantic allies together to discuss the world’s most pressing security challenges.
It is clear from my discussions in Munich that our allies have serious doubts about American leadership and the current course of U.S. foreign policy. It’s normal for us to at times disagree with our allies — sometimes it can be a useful exercise to reach a better outcome. But I am worried that this administration’s treatment of our allies has further alienated them at a time when we need them most.
As the world evolves, we must make necessary adjustments to our foreign policy to ensure it continues to serve U.S. interests. But the United States cannot tackle — much less resolve — the multitude of global challenges we face on our own. We cannot stop Russian and Chinese aggression, cyber crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, global pandemics, or climate change, to name a few, without partners.
To read the full column, click here.