The U.S. pullback from global leadership during the Obama administration has left a vacuum filled by Moscow, Tehran and Beijing and resulted in the world being a "much more dangerous place," Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz told the
Washington Examiner.
Cruz said that Russian President Vladimir Putin respects only strength. "At this point the Russians are openly laughing at the president," he said. Putin's belligerence was "a direct consequence" of the lack of American leadership in the international arena, Cruz said.
The senator characterized U.S. foreign policy, under Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and current Secretary of State John Kerry, as weak and confused. The administration has "undermined our allies and has strengthened our enemies" leaving Putin at an advantage.
The president was now haltingly moving in the right direction on Ukraine, Cruz told the Examiner. He urged the White House to draw up a free trade agreement with Kiev and reiterated his call to bring back the East Europe missile defense shield which the president abandoned in 2009.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.