Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), recently discussed the importance of American leadership in global affairs during an interview with ABC4 Utah’s Inside Utah Politics. The conversation, led by Brian McElhatten, covered topics such as supporting Ukraine and strategically competing with China.

Senator Romney emphasized that providing military aid to Ukraine is in the United States' best interest as it could deter Russia from invading other countries, including NATO members. Such invasions could potentially draw the U.S. into greater conflict. The discussion also touched on the Senator's efforts to encourage federal agencies to take more substantial action in understanding and containing the bird flu virus (H5N1).

In a segment of his exchange with McElhatten, Romney said, "...I do not understand how anyone can argue that we shouldn’t provide weapons to Ukraine...there’s no way for Ukraine to win." When asked about opposition within his party regarding aid to Ukraine, particularly from Senator Mike Lee, Romney expressed respect for differing viewpoints but stood firm on his stance.

"We agreed to [support Ukraine's sovereignty] back in the 1990s when they gave up their nuclear weapons," Romney explained. "For us to walk away from that and to walk away from the defense of freedom strikes me as being a very bad miscalculation...we do well in a world where there is freedom and democracy."

When asked about an expected Russian offensive this summer and its potential impact on Ukraine, Romney acknowledged Ukraine's underdog status against Russia but praised their performance so far. He stressed that it was crucial for America to send a clear message against invasion.

The conversation then broadened to discuss America's global position amid increased Chinese presence in Africa and across the Pacific. While acknowledging some areas of concern like Africa and Latin America where attention has been lacking, Romney pointed out successful instances where nations have become stronger due to their investments in their own militaries.

Lastly, the interview touched on the H5N1 avian flu and the federal government's response. Romney criticized the lack of coordination among various agencies and called for a comprehensive report to ensure early identification of any threat from bird flu.

"Federal agencies have been caught flat-footed in understanding and containing the bird flu virus outbreak," Romney tweeted. "The Administration needs to move swiftly to get ahead of this situation and reassure Americans that they—and our food supply—remain safe."