What happens abroad matters to Iowans

We live in a dangerous world.

Vladimir Putin has invaded Ukraine with ambitions to march through Eastern Europe. Iran and its terrorist proxies have repeatedly attacked Israel. Tension is building in the Indo-Pacific. The success of our freedom-loving friends is inextricably linked to our own national security; what happens abroad matters to Iowans. The recently passed national security bill equips our strategic partners to defeat our adversaries and protects America’s interests at home and across the globe.

Having firsthand experience with U.S. relations with Israel, Europe, and China, we applaud Iowa’s congressional delegation for supporting those who share our values and stand on the side of freedom. American leadership matters now more than ever.

Israel has been fighting for its very existence since Iran-backed Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks on October 7. The recently passed legislation equips Israel to defend itself against Iran and its proxies, reinstates sanctions on Iranian oil, missile, and drone production, and reimburses U.S. military operations in the region, simultaneously bolstering Israel’s defenses while limiting Iran’s ability to attack and further destabilize the entire region. The Iran-backed terrorists who seek to destroy Israel are also chanting ‘death to America’ and are witnessing a surge of antisemitism across our country. We cannot let them win, and thanks to bipartisan action from Congress, they will not.

For decades, Vladimir Putin’s stated goal has been to create a new Russian empire in Europe. He invaded Ukraine in 2014 and forcibly annexed Crimea. The West’s weak response to that aggression invited Putin’s latest attack. If we allow Putin to march through Ukraine to the borders of our NATO allies, he will sense weakness. He may even invade a NATO ally, which would bring the U.S. into open war. Passing the Ukraine supplemental assistance — 79% of which will be invested in U.S. defense capabilities — shows resolve and will deter further aggression.

The bipartisan national security package contains $8 billion to strengthen our defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific and provide crucial military support to our allies there, where territorial disputes have been growing.

Our own territorial integrity also matters, and we must make every effort to secure our borders. But that effort cannot be successful without a president and a Congress who are willing to prioritize it.

The national security bill presented Congress with a Churchill or Chamberlain moment — abandon those who share our values and let our adversaries glide to victory, or stop appeasing dictators and take a stand for freedom on the global stage. All Iowans should be grateful that Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, as well as Reps. Ashley Hinson, Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Zach Nunn chose the Churchill doctrine.

Terry Branstad is a former U.S. ambassador to China and governor of Iowa. Chuck Larson is a former U.S. ambassador to Latvia and served in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate. Charles Schneider is a former Iowa state senator and co-chairs Iowans Supporting Israel, a bipartisan nonprofit organization.