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Updated November 3, 2024
How do the 2024 presidential candidates compare when it comes to foreign policy?
With tensions high across the globe, foreign policy is front and center of this year’s presidential race. A majority of Americans support Ukraine against Russia, but isolationism has resonated with a part of the electorate who believe that aid will only fuel a conflict that appears to have no end in sight. Both Trump and Biden agree on seeing China as a world competitor, but the Biden-Harris Administration has pointed out that the U.S. should remain engaged with China. In terms of public opinion, around 30% more Republicans believe China is a critical threat than Democrats. Finally, in Gaza, the Biden-Harris Administration’s policies towards Israel have drawn criticism from certain groups of youth and Arab-Americans who wish for a permanent ceasefire. Most recently, the Democratic primary in Michigan showed 100,000 voters cast ‘uncommitted’ ballots in protest against Biden’s perceived support for Israel.
Here's how the 2024 candidates match up on specific issues of foreign policy:
Subtopics:
- Ukraine War
- Aid to Ukraine
- Israel-Hamas War
- Stance on Ceasefire
- Defense Spending
- Foreign Aid
- Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
- UN
- NATO
- China
- Taiwan
- Trade and Tariffs
Ukraine War
Kamala Harris (D): Opposes Ukrainian surrender and has allotted roughly $100B in aid to Ukraine with the Biden Administration.
The Biden-Harris Administration has allotted over $100B (estimated) in aid for Ukraine. Vice President Kamala Harris called suggestions that Ukraine should surrender territory to make peace with Russia “dangerous and unacceptable.”
Donald Trump (R): Called for a ceasefire and decreased U.S. involvement.
Former President Donald Trump has called for a ceasefire and decreased involvement in the war to focus on domestic issues. He believes that European nations should play a larger financial role in aid for Ukraine, stating it was “stupid” for the U.S. to offer foreign aid to countries in lieu of loans. While meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he allegedly stated he would “not give a single penny” for the war. He has called for Congress to pause military support until Biden and his son’s business actions are investigated. He was once impeached for his alleged conduct in a phone call with Ukraine’s president.
Chase Oliver (Lib.): Supports facilitating dialogue instead of perpetuating the conflict.
Chase Oliver, who said he got his start as an anti-war activist, said the U.S. should end aid to nation-states currently at war, including Ukraine. On his campaign website, he says, “While we offer moral support to our friends currently engaged with the enemy, we should not be contributing to extending the fight.” Oliver also stresses that the U.S. should “play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue rather than perpetuating the conflict.”
Oliver supports admitting refugees to the U.S. “who are in the middle of the firefight” and granting amnesty for “any person conscripted to fight in a war they don’t want to fight in…Conscription is slavery.”
Cornel West (Ind.): Supports increased negotiation and peacemaking through ending weapon aid.
Cornel West supports diplomatic talks to negotiate peace between Ukraine and Russia. He has rebuked the U.S. and NATO because he believes they instigated the war. He would cease all weapons to Ukraine and invest in peacemaking.
Jill Stein (G): Supports a ceasefire, ending financial and military support for Ukraine, and honoring previous agreements to respect Ukrainian Neutrality.
Jill Stein emphasized the suffering in Ukraine, and the futility of continuing with the war. Stein calls for a ceasefire, an end to financial and military support for Ukraine, and a return to the original agreements even though they may be much more difficult now.
In an interview with The Young Turks, Stein expressed belief that though Russia’s invasion was a criminal act that violated international law, the conflict was foreseeable and understandable. Stein compared the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, saying the U.S. retaliation was justified as we protected our borders from “incredible vulnerability.” Stein went on to say the U.S. violated the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.
In an interview with Newsweek (Center bias), Stein said "We've laid the groundwork for reestablishing missiles all over and particularly on Russia's border, which is why Russia went to the mat after trying to put forward peace deal after peace deal, which was essentially rejected by the United States. We are in wars very much of our own making."
Israel-Hamas War
Kamala Harris (D): Supports a two-state solution and ceasefire.
Vice President Kamala Harris supports a two-state solution in Gaza. She both supports self-determination of Palestinians and condemns the actions of Hamas. She stated, in July, “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation.” Harris called for a ceasefire in August, and she said that she and President Joe Biden were working to end the Israel-Hamas War; however, plans have not been specified.
Donald Trump (R): Supports Israel and a quick end to the war.
Former President Donald Trump initially criticized Israeli leaders for purported intelligence failures and referred to Hezbollah, a militant group in Iran, as “very smart.” He has also pledged to “fully support” Israel. He disapproved of the White House’s dealings on hostages, pointing out that American hostages were slow to be returned. Trump has said he would reject refugees from Gaza from entering the U.S. In terms of casualties, he has said that he would “probably have to let this play out.” He also declared that Israel must “finish the problem” against Hamas and avoided an explicit position on a ceasefire when asked about it.
Trump reportedly spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ending the war quickly and stopping the killings.
Chase Oliver (Lib): Called for a ceasefire and diplomacy.
Chase Oliver called for a ceasefire in Gaza and stressed that the U.S. should play a constructive role in facilitating dialogue rather than perpetuating the conflict.
In a 2024 interview with Reason (Center bias), Oliver said the Israeli government is committing genocide against Palestine. He said “...the people of Israel have a right to exist, but so do the people of Palestine.” In an interview with Al Jazeera (Lean Left bias), Oliver said we need to send a clear message to Israel that we will not support their actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
When asked how the U.S. can broker peace in the middle east, Oliver said we should remove “our military footprint as quickly and orderly as possible so that it can be done in a way that is responsible, not like what we saw with the Afghanistan withdrawal which was haphazardly done.” The “best thing we can do is act as a neutral arbiter.” Oliver said the best thing the U.S. can do is act as a “neutral arbiter.”
Cornel West (Ind.): Supports Palestine and ending funding to Israel.
Cornel West would cease military funding to Israel and press the UN to establish a program supporting Palestine, according to his campaign website.
Jill Stein (G): Demands the U.S. government stop supporting Israeli violence in Gaza.
Jill Stein pledges to “immediately end all military aid to Israel and adopt sanctions until Israel complies with international law to put an end to decades of violence, illegal occupation, displacement, dispossession, apartheid, and ethnic cleansing,” on her campaign website.
After the Israeli raid on the Al-Shifa Hospital in November, Stein said “Attacking a hospital with bombs and snipers… these are not acts of war, they are acts of genocide.” She called for an investigation of the “Netenyahu regime’s war crimes” as well as the role of President Joe Biden and other U.S. leaders “in aiding and abetting them.”
In response to the escalation in Lebanon, Stein posted on X, “In just the last few days Israel has murdered hundreds in Lebanon with indiscriminate terror attacks and bombings. Time to cut off US support for Netanyahu's genocidal land grab NOW.”
The Green Party “rejects the Zionist concept of an exclusive Jewish homeland at the expense of the indigenous Palestinian population.”
Defense Spending
Kamala Harris (D): Supports defense spending similar to Trump's policies.
Vice President Kamala Harris has continually supported defense spending; however, she has been criticized for prioritizing foreign aid spending and not U.S. troops. During September’s presidential debate, Harris falsely claimed, “There is not one member of the United States military who is in active duty in a combat zone.”
Donald Trump (R): Supports defense budgets upwards of $700B and increasing the military-industrial base.
Former President Donald Trump proposed two defense budgets upwards of $700 billion during his presidency. He has approved over $55 billion in foreign weapons sales compared to $33 billion by his predecessor, former President Barack Obama. He has expressed interest in increasing the military-industrial base through budget funding.
Chase Oliver (Lib.): Supports cutting military spending.
On X, Chase Oliver posted, “Americans deserve full transparency on how their tax dollars are spent, especially on defense… It's time to bring our troops home, close overseas bases, and focus on PEACE. Let's cut wasteful spending that hurts American families and puts our national security more at risk.”
Oliver said he would close all overseas bases, and use the savings for a one-time contribution to discharge the interest on currently outstanding Federally guaranteed student loans, as president.
In an interview with Reason, Oliver advocated a 50 percent cut to the Pentagon budget, which he says “would still have [the U.S] militarily capable of defending [itself]and warding off any invasion…”
Cornel West (Ind.): Supports ending foreign military aid, putting the money back into the U.S., and bringing U.S. troops home.
Cornel West wants to stop all foreign military aid and bring all U.S. troops home. He would invest money previously allocated for war back into American communities. He claims he would slash the military budget.
Jill Stein (G): Supports cutting military spending by 50-75%.
On her campaign website, Jill Stein pledges to “end existing wars, military actions, proxy wars and secret wars” and “cut military spending by 50 - 75% and ensure a just transition that replaces military jobs with Green New Deal Jobs.”
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)
Kamala Harris (D): Supports NATO and "restoring American leadership" at the UN.
Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed staunch support for NATO.
The Biden-Harris Administration stressed support for “restoring American leadership at the United Nations,” citing various human rights, gender, and climate-related movements.
Donald Trump (R): Has criticized the cost of the UN and has discussed the U.S. withdrawing from NATO.
Former President Donald Trump discussed pulling the U.S. from NATO and has been critical about the cost of the UN. He has told NATO members that the U.S. would not defend them if he believed their spending was insufficient, discussing the potential for a two-tiered NATO alliance.
Chase Oliver (Lib.): Calls for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO.
In an interview with Newsweek, Chase Oliver said the U.S. should withdraw from NATO. “I just don’t think that we should necessarily be tied into an entangling alliance that automatically signals us to have to go to war in every case…”
Oliver highlighted that after the Cold War, the U.S. had the opportunity to “disengage NATO and start engaging Russia” as a trading partner. “I think that would have diffused tensions far more than continuing the NATO state and expanding it.”
Cornel West (Ind.): Supports disbanding NATO.
Cornel West has said he would disband NATO, blaming it for Russia’s war with Ukraine.
Jill Stein (G): Calls to end NATO.
In an interview with Kim Iversen, Jill Stein said she believes Europe should have a “separate security institution that is not based on military power, especially on military power from the US… NATO has become really an arm of US, misguided, aggressive foreign policy. It’s become a way to do an end run around the United Nations with a group of countries that we basically dictate to.”
China
Kamala Harris (D): Supports protecting the Taiwan Strait and, under the Biden Administration, has built off of Trump's tariffs on China.
Vice President Kamala Harris criticized former President Donald Trump for his economic plans for China; however, the Biden-Harris Administration has kept and built off of the tariffs that Trump put on China as president. Additionally, Harris has promised to make sure “America, not China, wins the competition for the 21st century.”
Harris stressed commitment to both peace in the Taiwan Strait and support of Taiwan’s self defense, in 2022.
Donald Trump (R): Imposed tariffs on China and plans to distance the U.S. from China's economy.
During his term as president, Donald Trump imposed a series of tariffs on China and plans to go further to distance the U.S. from China’s economy. He has not said yet if he would provide military support to Taiwan, but he has not discounted the option. He confirmed that he would impose tariffs of at least 60% on Chinese goods if he were re-elected, potentially mirroring his first term when he imposed $250B in tariffs. He opposed a TikTok ban that was considered in Congress for national security reasons, arguing that it would help Meta instead.
Chase Oliver (Lib.): Supports increasing trade and opposes tariffs with China.
Chase Oliver said that “tariffs are a tax, plain and simple” and “just like Mexico was never going to pay for a wall along its border, other countries will never pay tariffs. Americans will.”
Oliver also expressed concern that other countries will retaliate by introducing tariffs on goods from the U.S..
Oliver condemns China’s currency manipulation, but suggests that the U.S. should “be calling China's bluff and continuing to engage in as much foreign trade with them as possible. When you do that, you're making them inflate that currency manipulation balloon. Eventually, it will burst.”
Oliver says that Americans want “more responsible leaders” who are willing to do the “hard work of diplomacy” to avoid a war with China.
Cornel West (Ind.): Supports working with China on climate and war issues.
In 2023, West said the following:
If I were President, I would sit down with China’s President Xi to talk about these existential crises of climate and war. I would urge him to use his leverage as Russia’s number one trade partner to push Putin to the negotiating table, and I would promise to do the same with Zelensky so we can end this senseless carnage with a diplomatic resolution that addresses neutrality for Ukraine, referendums for the Donbas and Crimea, a demilitarized border, nuclear disarmament and security guarantees for all.
I would also stop the ridiculous and dangerous saber-rattling against China, the world’s largest exporter and owner of a trillion dollars of US debt. This saber-rattling only benefits the same war profiteers raiding our treasury for endless war in Ukraine. Instead, I would work with Chinese leaders to stop our planet from burning up in flames.
Jill Stein (G): Generally opposes tariffs.
Stein generally opposes tariffs due to her free trade positions.
This blog was written by Krystal Woodworth, Growth Specialist and Executive Assistant (Center bias); Malayna J. Bizier, News Analyst and Social Media Editor (Right bias); and Harry Ding, Content Intern (Center bias). It was reviewed and edited by Henry A. Brechter, Editor-in-chief (Center bias) and Joseph Ratliff, Design Consultant (Lean Left bias).