BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the importance of defending both the Indo-Pacific and Europe:
“The Indo-Pacific must be the priority theater. U.S. alliances, the region’s economic weight, and threats posed by China all make it central to U.S. security and prosperity. However, Putin’s aggression in Europe must be confronted. No competition with China will be successful without our European allies, so we must act to ensure their sovereignty and security is defended.
“Putin must also be stopped so no dictator can think an attack on his neighbors will not draw the strongest possible response from the world. Our Indo-Pacific allies and partners’ sanctions on Russia and humanitarian aid to Ukraine are very important in that regard.
“The United States can and will lead in the effort to defend the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Despite Democrats’ attempts to decimate our defense budget over the past decade, we must increase our defense spending so we can do both. We also need all of our allies, no matter where they are, to join us in defending the free and open order, and demonstrate that aggression will not stand.”
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