The Harris Team Highlights Her Strong Foreign Policy Record

The Harris Team Highlights Her Strong Foreign Policy Record

WASHINGTON — In the aftermath of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, her office swiftly issued a memo to national security experts, showcasing the Democratic nominee’s formidable foreign policy credentials.

 The 10-page document, procured by Bloomberg, was circulated on Thursday, underscoring Harris’s transformation from a domestic policy stalwart to a foreign policy luminary. This strategic communication comes as she embarks on her campaign against former President Donald Trump.

 The memo portrays Harris as a pivotal figure in reasserting U.S. global leadership alongside President Joe Biden, advocating for an American-led international order in stark contrast to Trump’s isolationist tendencies.

 As Democrats aim to counter Republican critiques of their new presidential nominee, the memo emphasizes Harris’s accrued foreign policy experience. Despite her domestic policy focus throughout much of her career, her contributions alongside Biden are spotlighted, particularly in advising on critical decisions ranging from the U.S. response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine to addressing Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel in April.

 Phil Gordon, Harris’s national security adviser, noted in the document that she has engaged with over 150 world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, and has conducted six significant meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Harris’s diplomatic missions, including pivotal trips to Asia and a historic visit to Africa, are also highlighted.

 "I’d like to share with you the attached information about Vice President Harris’s strong record on foreign policy and national security," Gordon wrote to the national security community. "I hope this is helpful as you engage with the media and other stakeholders interested in learning more about the vice president and her important work."

 The memo details Harris’s deep involvement in the Biden administration’s response to the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants, which resulted in 1,200 fatalities and approximately 250 kidnappings. Harris participated in over 20 calls between Biden and Netanyahu, emphasizing her active engagement with Israeli leadership while also vocalizing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

 "She has ensured the suffering of the Palestinians, and the Palestinian perspective has remained at the forefront of policy-making," the memo states. "She has pressed Israeli leaders hard to protect civilians and increase humanitarian assistance."

 Following her meeting with Netanyahu, Harris reiterated her commitment to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. "What has happened in Gaza over the past nine months is devastating—the images of dead children and desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety, sometimes displaced for the second, third, or fourth time," Harris remarked. "We cannot look away in the face of these tragedies. We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the suffering. And I will not be silent."

 Trump, meeting Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday, criticized Harris’s stance on Israel, labeling her a "radical left person" and questioning how Jewish individuals could support her.

 Harris’s office refrained from commenting on Friday evening. However, the memo’s release underscores Democratic efforts to enhance Harris’s foreign policy stature following her tenure as a California prosecutor, primarily focused on law and order issues.

 Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised Harris earlier this week as a "leading voice" on foreign policy, commending her for asking "penetrating questions" during White House deliberations. Additionally, dozens of former senior officials signed a letter affirming that Harris would require no "on-the-job training" due to her extensive experience in conducting foreign policy over the past three and a half years.