geekyTrump's Foreign Policy
Let's begin with the issue of foreign policy. Donald Trump has campaigned on a message of "peace through strength" which he promises will be at the center of his foreign policy. The Trump campaign views a strong military as essential to maintaining peace. Trump has promised to work with Congress to fully repeal the defense sequester and to submit a new budget to rebuild the nation's military. He has also promised to improve the nation's intelligence and cyber capabilities and to end what he characterizes as "the current strategy of nation-building and regime change."
Trump views the nation's current refugee policy as a threat to national security. He has promised to work with allies in the Middle East who would be the ones on the front line fighting against the Islamic State. He views coalition military operations as necessary to defeat ISIS, and has promised to pursue international cooperation to cut off funding for terrorist agencies. He also sees intelligence sharing and cyberwarfare as means of disrupting and disabling ISIS propaganda and recruiting.
Trump calls for new screening procedures and tougher enforcement of immigration laws to keep terrorists from entering the United States. To this end, he calls for the suspension, on a temporary basis, of immigration from those regions of the world that have a history of exporting terrorism. He also promises to establish a Commission on Radical Islam. Its goals would be "to identify and explain the core convictions and beliefs of Radical Islam, to identify the warning signs of radicalization, and to expose the networks in our society that support radicalization."
Trump is critical of Iran, who he calls the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism and is especially critical of the recent treaty between the United States and Iran, which resulted in the payment of $150 billion by the United States.
Clinton's Foreign Policy
Hillary Clinton has also promised to "ensure we are stronger at home". She has promised to accomplish this by investing in infrastructure, education, and innovation, and by working to reduce income inequality. Clinton argues that "our country can’t lead effectively when so many are struggling to provide the basics for their families." She has also promised to support America's allies, including NATO, which she calls "one of the best investments that America has ever made." She has also promised to support Israel, and to invest in partnerships with nations in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Clinton promises to use diplomacy and development as means of avoiding conflict. She supports the treaty with Iran, which she says has prevented them from acquiring a nuclear weapon and she had promised to vigorously enforce the agreement. She also promises to build stronger ties with Cuba. She supports President Obama’s initiative to re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba and will ask Congress to lift the embargo with Cuba, while continuing to press for reforms.
She has promised to take a tougher line with countries like Russia and China and has said that she "knows we have to be able to both stand our ground when we must, and find common ground when we can." She says that she will "stand up to Vladimir Putin" and will "hold China accountable", pressing China to "play by the rules" on such issues as cyberspace, on currency, human rights, trade, territorial disputes, and climate change.
Clinton's plan for defeating ISIS calls for taking out ISIS’s stronghold in Iraq and Syria, working with America's allies to dismantle global terror networks, and strengthening defenses at home. She has promised more support for first responders, law enforcement, and intelligence officers. She also promises to work to keep assault weapons out of terrorists’ hands by allowing the FBI to stop gun sales to suspected terrorists, enacting comprehensive background checks, and keeping military-style assault weapons off the streets.