This event brings to Chatham House a VIP gust who sits at the heart of the US administration in MIke Pence, 48th Vice President. The chair of the meeting is Chatham House Director, Bronwen Maddox, and hopefully she will be able to get Mr. Pence to enlighten us on where the USA sits with regard to its foreign policy strategies in a changing world.
Mike Pence, who hails from Indiana, was the Vice President during Donald Trump’s first reign as President from 2017-2021. He is now in the U.K. to promote his book.
Mike Pence relishes the opportunity to speak in the historic walls of Chatham House. He reflects on his time addressing important world leaders and assemblies in his position. He says that Ideas shape freedom and destiny and in that sense Chatham House is important.Millions of Americans cherish the enduring friendship between the USA and Great Britain. The Special Relationship was forged during the fires of World Wars 1 and 2. He states that Britain stepped up in America’s time of crisis at the point of the 9/11 atrocities. He has never been to a forward base without seeing the Union Jack flying beside ‘Old Glory’. After the War on Terror we now have a potential conflict with mutual interests with Russia We are connected by ideals in a coalition of the willing. He says that Britain is Greece to America’s Rome. There is also the rise of China.
There is a move in America towards isolationism and to step back from the global front. However, he believes that America can maintain prosperity at home and still be a leader of the free world. Weakness arouses evil. History does not reflect well on those who abandon others. Wars break out when there is an imbalance between powers. When America leads the world is safe when it is weak then chaos ensues. Britain has a strong role to play. The Transatlantic alliance is not a relic of the past. Our values must be defended in a turbulent world.
He has a funeral to attend of another Vice President in Dick Cheney. Some choices made in London antagonize certain important voices in America. Some people say that the U.K. is not a friend of the USA. Most, however, know that the friendship is strong. To strengthen our alliance we should live by our values of freedom and stand together as the twin pillars of the free world. Nowhere more so is this important than with the Ukraine crisis. He has traveled to Ukraine and seen people fleeing from the onslaught of the Russia invasion. Putin’s unprovoked invasion is the most blatant act of aggression in Europe since 1945. International lines should not be redrawn by force. He has spoken to Vladimir Putin and told him things he doesn’t want to hear. If the Ukraine special operation succeeds, Pence believes that Putin will roll on across another country’s border where it will have to be defended. Oil is providing economic relief for Russia. Sanctions must be increased to stop nations supporting Putin’s regime. America has energy reserves and so does Britain in the North Sea so should step up supply.
Communist China is increasingly threatening Taiwan. Also President Xi has been running a campaign against Christians and has jailed pastors and is fighting against Christianity. Beijing makes no secret of its desire. It aims to enforce its influence in the Asia-Pacific region but China aims to dominate as a world power. Values should be shaped by liberty and not by tyranny. Free nations are on one side and those hostile to freedom on the other.
There is a deep bond between the United States and Israel. The USA was the first to recognize the Balfour Declaration in 1948. Israel is a cherished ally and they must stand by it but with renewed vigilance antisemitism should not be allowed to rise again and should be universally condemned. America has not lost its appetite for leadership. The American people still believe in the values of their founding. 57% of Americans believe that America should take a stronger role in leading in international affairs. America is defined by the indomitable spirit of the American people. Alliances make us strong and don’t give into pessimism and don’t doubt the decency and resolve of the American people. Liberty will be stood by.
The presentation finished there and the room was opened up to questions from the audience (both in person and online).
Is the USA making a hostile act in its approach to Greenland or is it respecting the rule of law? Mike Pence is proud of the Trump-Pence administration legacy even if it didn’t end as he would have wanted.
During his time, the US military was rebuilt and utilized against ISIS, for example. Trump’s rhetorical style can grab attention but seeing where the USA has reached in implementing policy demonstrates progress. President Trump is not an isolationist. America will continue to lead on its principles.
Pence cites an achievement in dealing with President Erdogan of Turkey in showing restraint against the Kurds with the threat of sanctions. America First does not mean America alone and depends on their allies to live up to their word, in particular with NATO allies. There is presently a real moment of testing in the West.
He mentions tariffs and feels that at the founding of America taxes on tea were an issue. No one person can impose import taxes on the people – it has to be done by the representative bodies. American businesses and consumers pay American tariffs. They are seeing inflation and impacts in their economy in the USA. He hopes that they will return to seeing how tariffs were used during his time in administration. After Brexit he addressed the CIty of London, citing how a free trade agreement was in the pipeline for the U.K. HE believes in free trade between free nations.
He is confident about American democracy. This confidence comes as having served in Congress and having served as Vice President touring the country. After he left his position he moved to the country. He has people all over the country on the right and left approach him to congratulate him on his service. The American people want them to live up to the ideals of representative democracy.
We shouldn’t ignore the real threat to long term security for the U.K. and USA – that of public debt. It is rising dramatically. National debt is worse in America. Compassionate reforms are required on federal spending. National debt is the greatest threat to American security. More is spent on debt than on defense. Good ideas often follow the sun across the Atlantic. The British people should call upon their government for fiscal reforms.
Is internal democracy in America under threat. Is there an incipient coup? January 6th was a day of tragedy but the riot was quelled by men in uniforms and both Republicans and Democrats came together to deal with it, to avert tragedy.
People are surprised by agreements with Saudi Arabia but Trump’s first foreign visit during his first term was to Riyadh. The Abraham Accords were agreed despite the COVID pandemic. He hopes that the F-35 won’t find its way into China’s hands. He hopes that Saudi Arabia will become part of the Abraham Accords.
Will elections yet again challenge the US Constitution? He hasn’t paid a price in his eyes. On social media extreme voices on the right and left find a platform. The American people won’t have a Constitutional disruption again. The people engaged in violence did not represent a fraction of his movement. His people love their institutions.
Did the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia know about the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi? The relationship with Saudi Arabia is something the USA needs to move forward on. Freedom of the Press is a crucial value.
When the U.K. makes open border policies it causes controversy in the US. What immigration policies should countries pursue for the USA to remain allies? He doesn’t believe in foreign interference in elections. He says that the Biden administration destroyed his policies regarding the Southern Border. Now the new administration has put these policies back into effect. A nation without borders is not a nation. Positive immigration means that people who come to Britain want to be British. His ancestors never forgot their ancestral home in Ireland. But they came to be Americans. Open the doors based on merit – people that offer something to the country and are of value. The broken American immigration system has to be fixed.
This was an enlightening and fulfilling session from former Vice President Mike Pence that illuminated me on the US situation with regard to its foreign policy now and into the future.
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