Congress: Without funding, the fight for global democracy hangs in the balance

Immediately following the recent Republican presidential debate, a television focus group described it in just five words: “Foreign policy takes center stage.” 

Given that primary debates are often dominated by domestic issues, this may seem out of character. Yet with two wars and spiraling humanitarian crises, should we really be surprised that global threats are now front and center in the race for commander in chief?

As we witness rising global threats, our adversaries are becoming even more brazen in their collaboration against democracies around the world. And what’s even more concerning is that they are no longer doing it quietly. Take, for example, all that has taken place just between the first and the most recent presidential debates:

Russia hosted Hamas leaders at the Kremlin just days following the barbaric Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. China welcomed Putin in Beijing during its recent 130-country conference. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un toured Russian missile sites. Iran continues to produce weapons to kill Israelis, Ukrainians and Americans. Meanwhile, in the Indo-Pacific, the maritime clashes between China and the Philippines continue as Taiwan’s future hangs in the balance. And all of this, just as Israel and Saudi Arabia were moving towards normalization.

The serious threats and flashing red warning lights of the growing alignment between the world’s authoritarian regimes should scare us all. America needs an equally serious response. The question is: Will Congress get it done?

For more than 100 days, Congress has been considering a national security emergency package, which includes $35.5 billion for critically important economic, humanitarian and security assistance alongside support through the Pentagon. While there are certainly members in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle who support these resources, there are hurdles ahead, including differences over border security.

Yet the fact is that time is not on our side and our adversaries and competitors are not slowing down. The threats from Russia and Iranian-backed Hamas to America’s national security and toward two neighboring democracies — Ukraine and Israel — cannot be understated. While the two wars are certainly very different, we should not fool ourselves — these fights are connected. The imperative for America’s leadership is critical as we witness this global nexus of rising authoritarianism, conflict and instability and humanitarian crises.

In a recent op-ed, President Biden wrote, “Both Putin and Hamas hope to collapse broader regional stability and integration and take advantage of the ensuing disorder.” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) added, “This is the moment for swift and decisive action to prevent further loss of life, and to impose real consequences on the tyrants who have terrorized the people of Ukraine and Israel.”

Ultimately, if Russia were to reconstitute the Soviet empire in Ukraine and beyond, the impact on global instability and American families would go far beyond the significant disruptions we have already seen from volatile gas and grocery prices. Without additional economic and humanitarian assistance, it will become increasingly tough for Ukrainians to defend themselves if they can’t keep the heat and lights on during the winter. This is a small price to continue to diminish Russia’s capabilities — all without deploying a single U.S. troop.

And in terms of supporting Ukraine, America is not alone — with more than 50 countries and NATO allies working to help the nation defend itself. Europe continues to step up and has actually surpassed the U.S. as the largest total donor to Ukraine — including for security assistance.

In the Middle East, Israelis are still in shock over the trauma of the brutal attack by Hamas, who has promised to repeat these attacks. Far too many innocent Palestinian civilians have suffered. This emergency package includes critical support for our democratic ally, Israel, and essential humanitarian resources for Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

When it comes to the Indo-Pacific region, America’s diplomatic and development toolkit is central to America’s China strategy, including how we support Taiwan and compete with Beijing’s growing reach across the Global South. 

An analysis by our team at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, where I serve as president, shows that China’s global development investments have increased by 525 percent over the last 15 years. The current national security emergency package includes U.S. investments to strengthen America’s competitive edge and unlock billions of dollars in new private and public resources to provide clear alternatives to the People’s Republic of China’s often predatory practices.

Globally, the humanitarian stakes are only growing more dire. A new report from the World Food Program has identified “18 hunger hotspots” with more than 150 million people facing “acute food insecurity” over the next six months. This comes as conflict, hunger and climate shocks have forced 108 million people to flee globally, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. Confronting these crises will be essential to prevent even greater instability from rippling back to our shores.

As policymakers negotiate on border security, the supplemental package also includes resources for the U.S. to address irregular migration here in the Western Hemisphere.

Last month, I had the privilege of accompanying a group of our nation’s former three- and four-star military leaders to Capitol Hill. As former combatant commanders and leaders from every branch of service, they brought their decades of military experience to bear — that it is far less costly in blood and treasure to invest in diplomacy and development now than to put our troops in harm’s way. Their message to lawmakers on the comprehensive national security package was crystal clear: “This is not a moment that America can shrink from the global stage. Our nation’s security is at risk.”

As we tune in to the upcoming presidential and congressional debates, the voices of these national security experts will continue to ring true. Turning inward and focusing only on our challenges here at home may provide an easy soundbite during an election season, but it’s a dangerous policy when it comes to the security and safety of the American people. 

At a time when global stability directly impacts our nation’s security, Congress needs to get it right for the American people. Because, simply put, we can pay now or pay a lot more later.

Liz Schrayer is president and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.