Kasich warns of possible global conflict

Increasing skepticism of the United States’ global alliances and the unraveling of the post-World War II international order could put the world on a course to another global conflict, Ohio Gov. John Kasich warned Thursday.

“Growing tensions across the world, fed by intemperate voices at home have caused many in this country to second-guess the international alliances and relationships that have served us so well across seven post-war decades,” the Republican said in an op-ed on Time.com. “As a result, those alliances have lost credibility with growing numbers here who say they prefer that we stay at home instead of supporting our allies overseas.”

Railing against increased isolationist sentiment in the U.S. and abroad, Kasich suggested that the world appears to be reverting to conditions that were common on the eves of the two world wars. He also pointed to weakening support for NATO, growing regional conflicts and decaying support for international cooperation as evidence that “our world is coming undone.”

{mosads}“It will not be easy in a time of austerity and anger to push against a rising tide of opposition, but as men and women of conscience, we must stand together and have the moral courage to look into the heart of darkness and do what is best for mankind,” Kasich said.

His op-ed pushed back against the “America first” agenda of President-elect Donald Trump, who has advocated for U.S. withdrawal from international trade deals and has frequently voiced skepticism of organizations like NATO and the United Nations.

Kasich, who ran against Trump in the 2016 GOP presidential primaries, never endorsed the real estate mogul after he won the GOP nomination and at times has acted as a Republican foil to Trump’s populist rhetoric.