House Republicans must support aid to Ukraine, recall Truman Doctrine, says former aide

In deciding whether to approve additional aid to Ukraine, U.S. House Republicans should read President Harry S. Truman’s speech before a joint session of Congress in March 1947. They need a historical reminder of the unequivocal importance of supporting U.S. allies in their fight against totalitarian regimes.

The sole focus of Truman’s speech was to persuade Congress to provide economic assistance to Greece and Turkey and help prevent the spread of communism. The speech was one of the most consequential of his presidency and represented a major break from America’s isolationist past.

The president declared: “I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to support free peoples who are resisting attempted subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures.” He laid out in stark terms the gravity of doing nothing.

“If we falter in our leadership, we may endanger the peace of the world — and we shall surely endanger the welfare of our own nation.”

Truman Doctrine was backbone of foreign policy

The new policy, which became known as the Truman Doctrine, was the impetus for the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after World War II and the formation of NATO as a military alliance to counter the Soviet Union. The speech was relatively short for a joint address — just 18 minutes — yet its effect was monumental. Its premise served as the backbone of U.S. foreign policy for more than four decades during the Cold War, sending a powerful message that the United States will defend democracy, no matter where it's threatened in the world.

Sadly, America’s resolve today is in serious question. Similar to Truman, President Joe Biden is tasked with trying to convince Congress to provide economic and military assistance to a foreign country. This time it's for Ukraine.

Ukraine needs our assistance

Without additional U.S. aid, Ukraine will surely lose its war with Russia. Maybe not next month or this year, but eventually, and the consequences will be devastating. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during a recent congressional hearing that “Putin won’t stop with Ukraine; he will continue to push forward and attack the sovereign territory of his neighbors... If Ukraine falls, I genuinely believe NATO will be fighting Russia.”

What happens in Ukraine has enormous global consequences. The war is a benchmark by which China, North Korea and Iran are judging American resolve to defend Taiwan, South Korea and Israel, respectively.

Deterring aggression is predicated on the intent of our elected officials to stand by our allies. At worst, conservative House Republicans have said no to additional aid for Ukraine; at best, they have linked that aid to tougher security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Even after the Senate passed a bipartisan bill that attached foreign aid to serious immigration reform, House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to call a vote because former President Donald Trump did not want to give Biden an election year victory.

NATO a vital ally for the United States

Trump dismissed NATO as irrelevant when he was president. More recently, he recklessly encouraged Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to any NATO country that does not spend at least 2% of its GDP on defense.

As a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee in the upcoming presidential election, Trump’s words have power. He and his allies in Congress feed the narrative that America is in retreat. But they are naïve to think that cutting off aid to Ukraine is in the best interests of the United States.

Disengaging with our allies, economically or otherwise, will embolden our enemies who are only too willing to step in and fill a vacuum of American leadership. This will create wider conflicts and greater instability as they see an opening to expand their influence, which could draw the U.S. into a more direct confrontation. House Republicans need to remember that peace comes through strength and not by abdicating our longstanding commitments to our allies who are on the front lines defending freedom and democracy.

The Truman Doctrine is as important today as it was in 1947, which is why House Republicans need to approve additional aid to Ukraine without any more delays.

John B. Stimpson served as an aide to former Gov. Bill Weld. He lived in Wellesley for more than 20 years.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: House Republicans must support more Ukraine aid, vital for U.S.