Foreign Affairs
America is the preeminent world power, and we have entered a period of renewed engagement with the world. We must use all of the tools at our disposal to pursue our interests, including diplomacy and economic development. That’s why I’m committed to reforming our foreign assistance system. Diplomacy takes time, and success is never guaranteed, but I’m convinced there is no other way to solve problems like the Middle East peace process, achieving arms control with Russia, and ultimately settling the tensions between Pakistan and India. Minnesota is home to some of our countries’ largest refugee communities. Many Minnesotans trace their origins to Somalia, and long to see peace and stability in that deeply troubled country. Such a peace would directly contribute to our national security. We should also feel an obligation to ensure the well-being and fair treatment of forcibly repatriated Hmong asylum seekers, many of whom have relatives in Minnesota.
