Among the major global players, Romney said that Russia is America’s greatest geopolitical adversary, but Iran and the Islamic State are the biggest threats to the homeland. He said defeating the Islamic State should be America’s priority, but due to Obama’s slow and nonconfrontational politics, options in the region are limited.
“All the things we’re trying to do, they’re chewing gum and baling wire because we are where we are, and unless we draw on every resource we have in the region, the region will remain in tumult,” he said.
Romney’s remarks focused primarily on geopolitics, particularly on U.S. foreign relations with Russia and the Middle East. It was held at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and hosted by Peter Feaver, professor of political science and public policy at Duke.
“The president misunderstood the events of the world, and it resulted in a world far more dangerous than when he took office,” Romney said.
“Shaping events is key to foreign policy, and he misunderstood Putin, misunderstood Russia, misunderstood the opportunity in Iran, misunderstood the consequences of pulling our troops out of Iraq, misunderstood what was happening in the Arab world, one after the other.”
He considers Obama’s foreign policy to be weak, characterized by his inability to intervene and calm conflicts.
“All that suggests is that America is weak and leadership is not standing up for our principles and values,” he said.
Romney recommended a stronger, more proactive approach to foreign policy, faulting Obama’s tendency to acquiesce with demands from Russia and Iran during negotiations about nuclear weaponry or the release of political prisoners.
