Foreign Policy
Printable FormatAs a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Obama has fought to strengthen America's position in the world by reaching across the aisle in an effort to prevent nuclear terrorism and weapons proliferation, stop the genocide in Darfur, and reduce global poverty.
Stopping Nuclear Terrorism and Weapons Proliferation
Senator Obama traveled in 2005 to the former Soviet Union with Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) to investigate the dangers posed by unsecured weapons. The two senators introduced legislation that was signed into law in January 2007 to help other nations detect and stop the transfer of weapons of mass destruction. The legislation also established the next generation of cooperative threat reduction efforts to destroy conventional weapons that could fall into the wrong hands. Senator Obama worked with Senator Lugar to ensure that funding was appropriated for the Lugar-Obama nonproliferation initiative.
Senator Obama also joined with Senator Hagel (R-NE) to introduce a broad bill that seeks to prevent nuclear terrorism, reduce global nuclear arsenals, and stop the spread of nuclear weapons and related technology. One provision, which was signed into law as part of the FY08 omnibus appropriations bill, requires the President to submit to Congress a comprehensive plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites around the world are secure by 2012 to keep them out of the hands of terrorists.
Pressuring Iran to Halt Its Nuclear Program
Senator Obama has called for much tougher sanctions, combined with direct, aggressive, and principled diplomacy, to halt Iran's nuclear program, its support for terrorist activity, and its threats toward Israel. In 2007, Senator Obama introduced the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act (S.1430) to increase economic pressure on Iran by clarifying that state and local governments can divest from companies that invest over $20 million in Iran's energy sector and by providing safe harbor for private fund managers who divest from such companies. Key provisions of Obama's bill were incorporated into the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act, which was approved by the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in July 2008.
Promoting Peace and Stability in the Middle East
Senator Obama has called for the United States to bolster its efforts to help Israel achieve peace with its neighbors, including working toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians, while ensuring Israel can defend itself against those who oppose this vision. He believes that the starting point for this effort should always be a clear and strong commitment to the security of Israel, our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy, and to the survival of Israel as a Jewish state. Senator Obama traveled to Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories in 2006 and met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to expand his understanding of the challenges that confront the region. He outlined his positions on key issues related to the Middle East in his remarks to AIPAC in 2007.
Preventing an Avian Flu Pandemic
Senator Obama was one of the first legislators to recognize the dangers of a potential avian influenza pandemic, and successfully secured $25 million for U.S. agencies working in Southeast Asia to combat and contain widespread outbreaks of avian flu. He also worked with other Senators to provide $4 billion in funding to the Centers for Disease Control to combat avian flu, including more than $3 billion to build a stockpile of antiviral drugs that had been in short supply.
Stopping the Genocide in Darfur
Senator Obama has been a leading voice urging the end of genocide in Sudan. He worked with Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) on the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, a version of which was signed into law. Senator Obama has traveled to the United Nations to meet with Sudanese officials and visited refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border to raise international awareness of the ongoing humanitarian disaster there. Working with Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Obama secured $20 million for the African Union peacekeeping mission.
Ending the Conflict in Congo
Senator Obama wrote and passed legislation to build on the historic election in the Congo and promote stability in the country. Senator Obama revamped U.S. policy in the Congo to include a commitment to help rebuild the country, develop lasting political structures, hold accountable destabilizing foreign governments, crack down on corrupt politicians, and professionalize the military. The bill also authorizes $52 million in U.S. assistance for the Congo, calls for a Special U.S. Envoy to resolve ongoing violence, and urges the administration to strengthen the U.N. peacekeeping force.
Fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa
Senator Obama is committed to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS, treating those already infected, and finding a cure. He has been a strong advocate for adequate funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Senator Obama has also played a direct role in promoting HIV testing, which is critical for prevention and treatment programs. During a two-week tour of Africa in 2006, Senator Obama took an HIV test in a public venue in Kenya. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that tens of thousands of Kenyans will get tested for AIDS as a result of Senator Obama's actions.
Confronting Repression in Zimbabwe
Senator Obama has advocated for a policy of pressuring the Mugabe regime to allow Zimbabweans to pursue their hopes for legitimate political change without fear of violent repercussions. He introduced a resolution in March 2007 that condemned the Zimbabwean government for repressive and violent actions against its people. The Obama resolution was passed by the Senate in July 2007.
Bringing a Brutal Warlord to Justice
Senator Obama has worked to hold former Liberian President Charles Taylor accountable for his reprehensible actions. After assuming the presidency following a brutal civil war that decimated Liberia's population, Taylor created a rebel group that fought in neighboring Sierra Leone's civil war and committed a range of atrocities including rape, murder and the use of child soldiers. On July 19, 2005, Senator Obama passed a bipartisan amendment, along with Senators Chuck Hagel, Patrick Leahy, and Judd Gregg to provide $13 million for the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Signed into law in November 2005, the Obama amendment provides critical funding to keep the Court up and running and dramatically enhances efforts to bring Taylor to justice.
Reducing Global Poverty
Senator Obama has advocated for a more effective U.S. strategy to help those around the world who live in extreme poverty. In December 2007, he worked with Senators Chuck Hagel and Maria Cantwell to introduce the Global Poverty Act, which requires the President to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce extreme global poverty in half by 2015 through aid, trade, debt relief, and coordination with the international community, businesses and non-governmental organizations. Senator Obama is working to get the bill, which was reported favorably out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in February 2008, passed in the Senate.