The two candidates for US president offer starkly different visions of the world, with November’s election carrying the potential to dramatically change policy toward Ukraine and other partners.
Vice President Kamala Harris largely offers a continuation of President Joe Biden’s agenda, although she has sought more nuance on the Middle East in particular, while a return of Donald Trump would likely mean a sharp rupture from current US foreign policy.
Ukraine
Few issues divide the two candidates as much as Ukraine.
Trump has scoffed at the billions of dollars in US aid to Ukraine, saying that Russia, which invaded its smaller neighbor in February 2022, is destined to win.
The Republican has in the past voiced admiration for Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who recently praised Trump as “sincere” about seeking to end the Ukraine war.
Trump’s aides have suggested leveraging US assistance to force Ukraine into territorial concessions to end the war quickly.
Trump has also mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the “greatest salesman” in a jab at his lobbying for US military aid, although the two had a cordial meeting in September.
Harris has vowed to keep up support for Ukraine and said at the September debate with Trump, “If Donald Trump were president, Putin would be sitting in Kyiv right now.”
Middle East
Harris and Trump are both pro-Israel but diverge on how far to pressure the US ally in its nearly 13-month war that began with a Hamas attack and has expanded to Lebanon and tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and Iran.
Harris, like Biden, has made clear she will keep arming Israel, distancing herself from calls from the left of their Democratic Party for an arms embargo for the sake of sparing civilians.
But Harris has also urged Palestinian “self-determination” and called Israel’s killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar a chance to end the war in Gaza.
Trump, whose Republican base is staunchly pro-Israel, has accused the Biden administration of unjustly trying to restrain Israel and said he is speaking regularly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump as president took a series of landmark actions on Israel’s behalf, including moving the US embassy to flash point Jerusalem and giving Arab nations incentives to recognize Israel.
But he also has a complicated history with Netanyahu, whom he criticized for joining other world leaders in recognizing that Biden won the 2020 US election — an outcome that Trump refused to accept despite overwhelming evidence.
China and Taiwan
Policymakers of both US political parties have spoken of China as the top long-term challenger, though they differ on rhetoric and approach.
Trump has relentlessly attacked China in his stump speeches and has vowed to impose massive tariffs on Chinese goods, hoping to boost manufacturing at home. But despite his public statements, he has also indicated he is open to deal-making with President Xi Jinping.
Biden has in some ways gone further than Trump, including by imposing a sweeping ban on high-tech chip exports.
Harris has highlighted Trump’s reluctance while he was in office to take similar measures, charging that he “basically sold us out,” with China’s military benefiting from US technology.
In Taiwan, the self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing, Trump has caused jitters by suggesting that it pay for its defense, likening the United States to an insurance company.
Harris, as vice president, has pledged to maintain the status quo, stating that “we support Taiwan’s self-defense, consistent with our longstanding policy.”
US allies
In a sharp break from previous presidents of both parties, Trump has questioned the utility of NATO, the collective defense alliance formed at the start of the Cold War.
Trump even said in February he would encourage the Russians to do “whatever the hell they want” to NATO allies that do not pay more on defense.
Harris has frequently pointed to Trump’s remarks as she promises, like Biden, to work with allies and stand by NATO.
Trump in his first term showed he was ready to break with international agreements he does not like, including the Iran nuclear deal.
He would also be expected to champion tough US pressure against leftist leaders in Latin America, particularly Cuba and Venezuela, although neither Biden nor Harris has deviated sharply from his approach.