|
 In an implicit criticism of U.S. President Barack Obama, Rubio,
known for his hawkish views, said he would use American power to
challenge nations like Russia and China when they pursue
expansionist aims at sea, in the air, and in outer space or
cyberspace.
"Russia, China, Iran or any other nation that attempts to block
global commerce will know to expect a response from my
administration," Rubio will say, according to excerpts of a speech
he plans to deliver later on Wednesday at the Council on Foreign
Relations.
In the excerpts of the speech, which is scheduled for 3.30 p.m. EDT,
Rubio outlined a more aggressive approach to world affairs than
Obama has pursued at a time when China is attempting to assert
greater control over the South China Sea, a vital shipping route,
and Iran has threatened commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida, called for a "robust commitment"
to foreign assistance, in contrast to Republican presidential rival
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who wants to scale it back. Rubio,
who is seeking his party's nomination in the 2016 U.S. presidential
election, also wants to make military spending a priority even
during peacetime. This would defy budget hawks in his party who have
called for steep spending cuts to balance the budget.
Though national security took a back seat to economic concerns in
the 2012 presidential election, Rubio and other Republican
candidates have spent the past several months arguing that Obama has
not done enough to protect the country from foreign threats.
[to top of second column] |
Rubio, a son of Cuban immigrants, has also emerged as a leading
critic of Obama's efforts to establish ties with the Communist
island nation.
With new extremist groups like Islamic State emerging in the Middle
East, the public may be lining up behind the Republican Party's
traditionally hawkish approach to world affairs, despite the
unpopularity of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars launched under the
last Republican president, George W. Bush.
By a 5-percentage-point margin, Americans say Republicans have a
better plan than Democrats for the so-called War on Terror,
according to Reuters/Ipsos polling.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a likely Republican candidate,
caused a stir on Monday when he said he would have authorized the
2003 invasion of Iraq, just as his brother had done.
(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Diane Craft)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
