Senator Lindsey Graham said President-elect Donald Trump needs to understand that foreign assistance is a critical tool for fighting terrorism around the world and requires a jolt in spending no less than his proposed boost for the military. Speaking at the U.S. Institute of Peace’s “Passing the Baton” conference on Jan. 10, the South Carolina Republican said that, without more resources for intelligence and for humanitarian and development aid, the new administration “will miss the boat on what it takes to win the war.”

Graham Lindborg

Graham, in a conversation with USIP President Nancy Lindborg, said that in 35 trips to Iraq and Afghanistan, he has come to see that combat operations yield limited benefits. He said he will try to convince Trump and Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, the national security advisor-designate, that while breaking the budget-control caps on military spending is a good start, winning the “war on terror” will also require increased funding for other elements of U.S. power and influence.

The president-elect will face a fundamental decision on the U.S role in tackling violent extremism and have to define for himself what would constitute victory, Graham said, adding that isolationism is bound to fail as a defensive strategy and America must push out into the world. The U.S. doesn’t want dependents, Graham said. But it can to help curb corruption, improve governance, assist refugees and stimulate economies to undercut the attraction of violent extremism.

“Radical Islam is selling a glorious death; we’ve got to sell a hopeful life,” Graham said. “I’m trying to convince the new administration and my Republican colleagues that we’re going to pay now, or we’re going to pay later,” Graham said. “The biggest antidote to terror,” he added, “is giving a poor, young girl a chance for an education and [ultimately] a voice for her children.”

Graham plays a central role in U.S. foreign policy and national security as chairman of the Senate’s State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who works closely with its chairman, Arizona Republican John McCain.

Graham called Trump’s discussion of working with Russia to destroy radical Islam misguided, saying the president-elect doesn’t fully understand the forces at play, particularly in Syria.

The Russians are “not destroying radical Islam, they’re destroying the moderate forces that are trying to liberate the country from Assad,” he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.  “I hope the president understands that if Assad stays in power, it will be a recruiting tool for radical Islam for decades to come.”

Graham’s immediate top priorities for the next administration:

  • Strengthen the military to deter aggression, while investing in the lives of others abroad to help keep the U.S. safe.
  • Push to extend indefinitely the Iran nuclear agreement’s 15-year ban on weapons development by imposing sanctions based on the country’s behavior outside the agreement, such as holding American sailors hostage or military interference in neighboring states.
  • Mark red lines on North Korea’s development of missiles capable of hitting the U.S., communicate them through China and be prepared to enforce them. Asked by an audience member if such warnings might provoke a North Korean military response, Graham said action always risked consequences. “I look at the worst thing that can happen and work backwards,” he said. “The worst thing that can happen is that North Korea builds a missile that can hit the homeland with a nuclear weapon.”


Related Publications

U.S. Concerns Over ‘Axis of Authoritarianism’ Cloud Final Biden-Xi Meeting

U.S. Concerns Over ‘Axis of Authoritarianism’ Cloud Final Biden-Xi Meeting

Thursday, November 21, 2024

With President Joe Biden’s presidential term ending in a few weeks, expectations for his final meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping were modest, especially considering the broader frictions in U.S.-China relations. Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru on November 16. The meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining open communications channels to manage the two powers’ many differences.

Type: Analysis

Global Policy

China’s Dilemmas Deepen as North Korea Enters Ukraine War

China’s Dilemmas Deepen as North Korea Enters Ukraine War

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Until late October, the big questions about China’s role in the Ukraine conflict centered around whether Beijing would choose to expand its support for Russia to include lethal aid, or if it might engage in more active peacemaking to end the conflict. Then, on November 4, the Pentagon confirmed that North Korea sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk oblast, where Ukraine had captured some territory earlier this year. Days later, the State Department confirmed that North Korean soldiers had begun fighting Ukrainian troops.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & PreventionGlobal Policy

How Should Seoul Respond to North Korea's Soldiers in Russia?

How Should Seoul Respond to North Korea's Soldiers in Russia?

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

The Ukraine war is taking a new turn with the involvement of North Korean soldiers. Washington estimates that, so far, North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia — around 8,000 of whom have been deployed to the western region of Kursk, where Ukraine seized territory in a surprise attack earlier this year. And as U.S. officials predicted in late October, North Korean troops have reportedly begun engaging in direct combat.

Type: Analysis

Conflict Analysis & Prevention

North Korean Troops in Russia Show Putin Is Doubling Down on Ukraine War

North Korean Troops in Russia Show Putin Is Doubling Down on Ukraine War

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

After signing a mutual defense pledge in June, North Korea and Russia relations appear to be deepening. U.S. officials confirmed last week that North Korean troops, including elite special forces, were in Russia for training and potentially combat operations against Ukraine. This represents a “dangerous expansion of the war,” according to U.S. and NATO officials. It could also have serious ramifications for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea is concerned that the deployment of North Korean troops could provide them valuable combat and technical experience. Meanwhile, China is watching closely to see what this means for its influence over North Korea and the implications for broader geopolitical tensions with the West.

Type: Question and Answer

Global Policy

View All Publications