Vivek Ramaswamy’s evolving views on aid to Israel: A concise guide.

Vivek Ramaswamy ⁤has had a dynamic stance on military aid to Israel ⁣throughout the ⁣Republican ​presidential primary race. During a recent debate, his⁢ proposal‌ to cut⁢ off aid ‌by 2028 sparked criticism from fellow candidate and former United Nations ambassador ‍Nikki Haley. The United States currently provides over $3 billion in annual military support to ​Israel, its key national security partner in the Middle East. Israel⁣ primarily uses this⁤ funding to purchase products ‍from the U.S. defense industry.

Let’s ‌take a closer‌ look at Ramaswamy’s ‍evolving positions on aid to Israel since June:

Position 1: Cut aid to the​ entire Middle East, including Israel

June 24, 2023: Ramaswamy expressed openness to reducing military aid‍ to Israel as part of a broader comprehensive vision for disengagement.

When asked about ⁤cutting ‍aid ⁣to Israel by a voter in Lancaster, New Hampshire, Ramaswamy responded, “I⁤ think it ‍would have⁣ to be part of a broader disengagement with the Middle⁣ East. So I ⁣wouldn’t do it‌ as an isolated policy. I would⁤ do it as part ⁤of ⁣also making sure that we’re⁤ not leaving ⁤other people we’ve also propped up, from ​Saudi ⁢Arabia to even Iran, in other ways over the years. So it has to ⁣be part of a comprehensive strategy. That’s why I’m not‍ giving you, like, ‘this⁤ one policy, yes,’ because it has to ⁣be part of a broader comprehensive vision ⁢for disengagement. That I‌ do​ support. Thank you.”

June ⁤30, 2023: Ramaswamy clarified that he is not open ‍to cutting aid ‌to Israel and criticized the false reporting surrounding his previous statement.

During an interview⁣ on the Breakfast ⁣Club radio show, host Charlamagne questioned Ramaswamy about his Israel ‍policies.

Charlamagne: You told a voter that ​you were open to ‍ending foreign aid to Israel. Then ‍it was reported that it was a misunderstanding.

Ramaswamy: Yeah,‍ that ⁤was false⁢ reporting, actually.

Charlamagne: Oh, you never ⁤said that?

Ramaswamy: No, ⁤I did not. I said I was open to a broad‍ strategy of disengagement from the Middle‌ East.

Position 2:⁤ Wean Israel off of U.S. aid ​by‍ 2028

August 11, 2023: Ramaswamy emphasized the need to “get Israel on its own two feet.”

Podcast‌ host Russell Brand asked Ramaswamy‌ about America’s ongoing funding of Israel​ in relation⁤ to ending ⁢the war between Ukraine and Russia.

Ramaswamy responded, “Now,⁤ as that ⁣relates to Israel, my view is, I asked the question, there’s no North Star ​commitment to any one country other than the United States‌ of America. So‌ what ​advances American interests? I actually do ‌think our relationship with Israel has advanced American interests. I come ⁤out on‍ the side of that. ‌Here’s what I want to see happen though. ‌I want to‌ negotiate, I’m a⁢ dealmaker, OK? I want to negotiate now Abraham Accords 2.0, get Saudi, Oman, Qatar, Indonesia‍ in ​there,‌ get Israel on⁢ its own two ​feet. And I believe in standing by commitments⁢ that we’ve​ already⁢ made. So‍ our commitments have I think $38 billion ⁤in aid, military support, etc. going in through 2028. I want ​to get Israel ‍to the place where ‍it‍ is negotiated‌ back⁣ into‍ the⁤ infrastructure of the rest ⁣of the Middle East. We should not be worried about holding one ‌nation⁢ or one⁢ region hostage over one particular question relating to Palestine. Go to ‍Abraham Accords 2.0, that’s good for Israel, it’s‍ good‌ for the rest ‌of the Middle East. ‌It’s good for us ​such that come 2028 that additional aid won’t be⁢ necessary in order‌ to still have the kind of stability that we’d actually have in the Middle​ East⁤ by having Israel more ⁣integrated in‍ with its partners. And I think ‌that the Trump administration took a first step, ‌getting ​Bahrain ⁣and some other countries. I think we need⁣ Saudi, ‌I⁣ think we need Oman,​ Qatar, Indonesia, and others in there. And then I ⁤think that puts ‌us in a position and it’s ⁤everybody’s position to‌ say, ​we don’t ​have to meddle.”

August⁣ 18, 2023: Ramaswamy stated that “aid will ‌continue” if his Middle ‌East plan fails.

“The big ⁣difference is to see ​if ⁣the Abraham Accords 2.0 is indeed successful at getting Israel to a stronger place than it is today while relying ​on U.S. aid,” Ramaswamy told the Washington Free Beacon. “If ‌it is, then that is​ the best-case scenario for‍ all; if it’s not, then‍ the ​aid will ⁢continue.”

August 19, 2023: ⁢Ramaswamy expressed his belief that Israel “will not require” aid ​by 2028.

“If ⁢we’re successful, the true mark ⁢of success for the⁣ U.S., and for Israel, will be to get to a 2028 where Israel ​is so strongly standing on⁣ its own two feet, ⁣integrated⁢ into ‍the economic and security infrastructure of the rest of the Middle East, that it will not require and⁢ be dependent on that‌ same ‍level of ‍historical ​aid or ⁢commitment from the U.S.,” said Ramaswamy at an ​event in ⁢Atlanta.

August 23, 2023: Ramaswamy‍ emphasized that ‌Israel⁣ shouldn’t ⁣have a “client relationship” with the ‌U.S.

During the⁤ Republican primary debate, ​Nikki​ Haley accused Ramaswamy of wanting to stop funding⁣ Israel.

He ‍responded, “Our relationship with Israel‌ will never be stronger‌ than by⁢ the end of my first term. But it’s ⁢not a​ client relationship, it is ‍a friendship. And you know what ​friends do? Friends help‌ each other stand on their⁣ own two feet.”

Position 3: Wean Israel off U.S. aid—if​ Israel signs off

August 28,‍ 2023: The ⁢Ramaswamy campaign‍ clarified ⁢that ‌cutting ‌aid ⁢to Israel “makes zero sense” at “any time in‍ the foreseeable future.”

Ramaswamy’s website posted a fact-check‍ statement, stating that⁣ the candidate‍ “won’t cut aid to Israel until ⁢Israel tells the‍ U.S. ⁣that it⁤ no longer needs the ‍aid. That’s what true friends do: ‌they’re⁤ honest with each other. We expect that of our friends in ‍Israel. And when Israel gets to that point, we should all rightly ‍celebrate ⁤it as a mark of ⁢achievement and pride‌ for both the U.S. and Israel. That’s what Vivek actually said,‍ so‌ don’t believe‍ the opponents’ lies⁤ that he wants to cut aid ‍to Israel—which makes zero sense ⁣as⁢ a foreign policy priority any​ time in the foreseeable future.”