Congressman Michael McCaul

American leadership on the global stage is critical. As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am responsible for oversight of State Department policy and promoting a responsible legislative agenda that bolsters international engagement with our allies, counters the aggressive policies of our adversaries, and advances the common interests of nations in defense of stability and democracy around the globe.

CHINA:
China, under President Xi, continues to consolidate its control over all facets of Chinese government, military, commercial, and civilian life. We've seen Xi purge his competitors within the country and compel its commercial sector to support its destabilizing rise around the world. The bottom line, China is on the rise, and its influence is expanding globally at a rapid pace. It is the Soviet Union of our times.  To counter China's immoral rise, we must support our allies, partners and friends, and expand our support to international development efforts. 

RUSSIA:
In Russia, Putin's regime continues to hinder American efforts at peace on the Korean Peninsula by covertly supporting the Kim regime's economy, which ultimately helps further their nuclear ambitions.  Across Europe and the Americas, Putin continues to engage in hostile disinformation campaigns intended to sow discord among our people, divide Europe, and drive a wedge between our NATO allies. And in Syria, he is bolstering the brutal regime of Bashar al Assad– making the likelihood of a political solution to end the bloodshed more distant. Russia must pay a price for its blatant attacks on American interests.

NORTH KOREA:
In North Korea, Kim Jong Un has marched down a path of nuclearization absent American leadership. He is now on the cusp of obtaining the ability to conduct a successful nuclear ICBM strike anywhere in the world – including the United States.  This is unacceptable. That is why President Trump and his Administration have begun to lead a maximum pressure campaign against North Korea to compel him to retreat from his destabilizing nuclear ambitions. These efforts include working with our international partners to diplomatically isolate the regime, increasing economic pressure on the North Korean economy through international sanctions, and refusing to take the use of military force off the table unless Kim Jong Un reverses course.

IRAN:
Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. A nation that has repeatedly threatened America and Israel with absolute destruction must not be allowed to ever have a nuclear weapon. Unfortunately, as negotiated by the previous Administration, the Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, injected the Iranian regime with billions of dollars in fresh funding for their expansionist agenda. From Yemen, through Iraq and Syria, all the way to Lebanon and the Mediterranean, Iran continues to solidify its influence in the region through a "Shia Crescent". This land bridge connects Iran to its destabilizing proxies throughout the region, such as Lebanese-based Hezbollah and Hamas in Palestine.  As our allies in the region understand, we must counter Iran's actions because they are a direct threat to regional stability.

Learn more about what McCaul is doing to strengthen our foreign policy here.