By: Tom Wright

Parts of the world are in turmoil – China and Taiwan, Israel and the Mideast, Ukraine and Russia. The axis of North Korea, Russia, China, Iran, ganging up against the US. Our next president will face these issues and experience will be needed. What are the stakes we face with a president weak on foreign policy?

Kamila Harris has little experience in the field and her mentor, Joe Biden has been all over the map on the subject. He has said unequivocally, we will back and defend Israel. In the next breath, Biden has said, he would withhold weapons if Israel mounts an offensive in Rapha. Harris agrees, promoting a peace settlement over victory for Israel. Hezbollah has refused to disarm and Israel will not settle on those terms.

We have just learned a top-secret memo was leaked from our intelligence community regarding Israel’s plan to attack Iran. That is an absolute Biden/Harris transgression, probably to short-circuit Israel’s plans and promote a “Biden Peace Accord,” all for his legacy and much sought, glory.

Donald Trump’s, “America First” theme gives the impression he is an isolationist. He has been against our deep involvement in Ukraine, but all in for helping Israel, applying extreme sanctions on Iran. Biden removed those sanctions.

Trump forced NATO to pony-up more defense funding against Russian aggression and cut our financial commitment to the treaty.  He personally engaged Russia, China and North Korea, ended our involvement in Iran’s nuclear deal, froze Iran’s foreign financial assets ordered the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, Iran’s top general. He also ordered a missile attack on Syrian forces, after they used chemical weapons on their own citizens.

In the far east, he has encouraged Japan and our Pacific allies to increase defense spending and they have. By strengthening our alliances, it has allowed us to become less engaged financially and militarily. That’s not isolationism.

The reality is, Trump oversaw the final defeat of ISIS, did not engage U.S. troops in further involvements and no countries started wars during his administration.

Trump’s foreign policy seems to be promising the olive branch for good behavior and the stick for bad behavior. With that threat, getting along is better than not.

Under a passive Biden/Harris Administration, we have seen China’s increased aggression against Taiwan, Russia invade Ukraine, a return to the nuclear deal with Iran and a release of sanctions and Hamas attack Israel.

In the past few days, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Hamas in Istanbul to discuss the situation and the possibility of a cease-fire, after the death of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. Iran’s Araghchi, told reporters that, despite that loss, Hamas “is more alive than ever.”

President George W. Bush first used the expression “Axis of Evil” in his 2002 State of the Union Address as it referred to Iran, Ba’athist Iraq and North Korea. Since then, China and Russia have been added. Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela could be considered minor, but significant partners as they are in our hemisphere.

The economy and immigration may be real areas for voters to consider, but foreign policy will be the determining factor for our future. Which candidate will best serve us?

Tom Wright is a Santa Fe columnist and El Rito Media investor.