On Russia, Trump Should Follow Reagan

As I traveled through Eastern Europe recently with fellow members of the House Armed Services Committee, a familiar face kept appearing. Seemingly everywhere our delegation went, we encountered Ronald Reagan.

In Bucharest, Romania, Mayor Gabriela Firea announced that she too would be unveiling a likeness of Ronald Reagan in her city’s center. She referred to our 40th President as “a symbol of democracy, the fight against communism, and the respect of human rights.”

In each of the countries we visited – Poland, Romania, Estonia, and Ukraine –leaders remarked that they are again looking to the United States for Reaganesque resolve to protect against the threats they face from Vladimir Putin’s Russia. 

Our visits to these countries came just hours after President Trump launched strikes against Syria in retaliation for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s barbaric use of chemical weapons against his own people. These strikes were especially significant to these countries in Eastern Europe, as their neighbor Putin is closely aligned with the Assad regime.

First, the president should deliver on congressionally-approved lethal and defensive weapons to Ukraine. President Obama refused to provide Ukraine with these weapons to fight back against Russian threats. Russia has already illegally annexed Crimea and continues to push forward into eastern Ukrainian territory. President Trump can deliver better weapons that will deter Russia from advancing further and protect one of our great allies and partners. 

Second, President Trump should abandon his misguided cuts to foreign military financing. These resources are the lifeblood for small militaries in countries like Estonia, who depends on American aid to boost their capabilities. 

Third, the Trump Administration should move European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) funding to base spending and provide a five-year budget profile for the EDI, as opposed to the one-year Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding currently provided. This change would send a message to Putin that the United States will be in the region for the long haul.

Fourth, as America’s military continues to slip further into a readiness crisis, President Trump should push Congress to abandon the disastrous Budget Control Act. The BCA has resulted in a nearly 20% cut to our military since 2011, during a time when defense spending should have increased, not decreased. Adopting the budget proposal put forward by Senator John McCain and Congressman Mac Thornberry, rather than President Trump’s own paltry 3% increase in military spending, is fundamental to restoring the strength of our military at a time when we desperately need it. 

Our delegation visited several locations where our allies are hosting American forces, and the message was clear. Our allies are sharing the burden by hosting our forces and providing for their infrastructure needs.

We need to stand with these allies. By renewing our commitment to NATO and our allies in the region, projecting American strength, and rebuilding our military, further aggression from Russia can be deterred.

Barack Obama largely left our greatest threats unchecked and undeterred for eight years, but President Trump can take steps today that will earn the gratitude and generational esteem of our allies, just as President Reagan did in the 1980s. 

Following this course may result in the swooping hairstyle of President Trump emblazoned on statues throughout eastern Europe. 

Congressman Jim Banks represents Indiana’s third district and serves on the House Armed Services Committee.