“When you have somebody on stage say, ‘I’m going to let Russia have this part of Ukraine, and I’m gonna tell them you can’t do anything with China going forward,’ it’s completely naive,” Nikki Haley said to applause from the audience. | Morry Gash/AP Photo
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has intensified her criticism of fellow Republican presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy’s foreign policy positions. During a town hall event in Indian Land, S.C., Haley, who also served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, reiterated her concerns about Ramaswamy’s stance on key international issues, echoing critiques raised during last week’s Republican primary debate.
Haley took the opportunity to challenge Ramaswamy’s approach to foreign policy, highlighting what she perceives as a lack of value for the United States’ relationships with critical allies and a failure to address the security threats posed by Russia and China. She drew applause from the audience as she voiced her concerns, accusing Ramaswamy of being “completely naive” for suggesting that the U.S. could relinquish certain positions to Russia or disregard China’s future actions.
Moreover, Haley expressed her disagreement with Ramaswamy’s disregard for the importance of maintaining international friendships and alliances. She stated, “And the other thing that bothers me — it is completely narcissistic to think that America doesn’t need friends. We do need friends. We do need allies.”
These comments follow the contentious debate in Milwaukee last week, where multiple candidates, including Haley, criticized Ramaswamy’s foreign policy views. One of the most notable moments occurred when Haley directly addressed Ramaswamy, stating, “You have no foreign policy experience and it shows,” and accusing his Russia policy of tantamounting to “choosing a murderer.”
Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, had outlined his foreign policy vision in an op-ed for The American Conservative, asserting that he would work towards enhancing relations with Russia to weaken the Russia-China partnership. He also stated his intention to cease aid to Ukraine if elected, while advocating for a specific relationship with Israel. Ramaswamy’s view on Taiwan’s defense also drew attention, as he indicated that he would not intervene in a potential Chinese invasion after the U.S. attains semiconductor independence.
In response to Haley’s recent criticisms, the Ramaswamy campaign pushed back, emphasizing his aspiration to be the U.S. president rather than a board member of a defense contractor. Tricia McLaughlin, a senior adviser to the Ramaswamy campaign, retorted, “Vivek is running for president of the United States, not a board seat on Lockheed Martin.”
COMMENTS