Gov. DeSantis’s 2024 Foreign Policy Agenda Focuses on China
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled his ambitious foreign policy plans during a speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The primary focus of his agenda was China, as he compared the Asian nation to the Soviets and called for a Cold War approach. DeSantis emphasized the importance of strength in achieving peace and pledged to modernize the nation’s military to deter Chinese aggression. His specific proposals included enhancing nuclear and space deterrence, reducing economic dependence on China, advancing technology for Taiwan’s defense, and expanding the Navy with more warships.
DeSantis stressed the need for a realistic assessment of the country’s situation, rejecting the notion that decline is inevitable or that everything is fine. He emphasized that the goal in relation to the Chinese Communist Party is simple: the United States must win and they must lose. The governor’s increased focus on foreign policy in recent weeks comes in the wake of the Hamas attack in Israel. In his home state of Florida, DeSantis has shown support for a special session to impose sanctions on Iran and pass resolutions in support of Israel’s autonomy and self-defense.
While DeSantis has been actively promoting his foreign policy agenda, his polling numbers have remained stagnant. National and early state surveys consistently place him in a distant second place behind former President Donald Trump, who continues to be the frontrunner. As the Iowa caucuses and early state primaries approach, DeSantis appears to be taking more aggressive shots at Trump. Although he refrained from criticizing Trump’s character during a recent CNN interview, his campaign launched a new ad highlighting Trump’s recent gaffes.
During a joint appearance with New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, DeSantis joked about Trump’s reliance on a teleprompter to stay on message. He questioned Trump’s ability to speak without one and referenced his previous claims of election fraud. Trump, on the other hand, has been preoccupied with mounting legal challenges rather than the upcoming election. He walked out of his civil fraud trial in New York after expressing frustration over testimony from his former fixer, Michael Cohen. Additionally, he was fined $10,000 by the judge for violating a gag order.
Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, reportedly struck an immunity deal with federal prosecutors, while another former campaign lawyer, Jenna Ellis, entered a guilty plea for her involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Ellis expressed regret for her actions, claiming she failed to do her due diligence and now recognizes the importance of election integrity. As more key figures cooperate with prosecutors, including Trump himself, the impact on the race remains uncertain.
With DeSantis unveiling his foreign policy plans and Trump facing mounting legal troubles, the 2024 campaign trail in Florida continues to be eventful and unpredictable. As the two Floridians vie for the White House, their contrasting approaches and the outcome of ongoing legal battles will shape the race in the coming months. The nation eagerly awaits further developments in this high-stakes political contest.
