Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has raised concerns about the potential consequences of reducing U.S. aid to Ukraine, suggesting it could have far-reaching geopolitical repercussions, particularly for Taiwan.
What Happened: Graham highlighted the vital role of Ukraine’s stability in deterring further Russian aggression and warned against curtailing assistance to the country.
In an interview with CBS News, Graham voiced his apprehension, stating, “If we pull the plug on Ukraine, that’s 10 times worse than Afghanistan. There goes Taiwan. To stop funding Ukraine is a death sentence for Taiwan. Putin will keep going. You missed all of World War II if you don’t know how this movie ends.”
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Graham directed his message at fellow Republicans, urging them to recognize Ukraine’s strategic significance. He asserted, “To the Republicans who say Ukraine doesn’t matter to us, you’re wrong. Respectfully, you’re wrong. The war gets bigger, not smaller. If Ukraine can beat Russia, China’s less likely to invade Taiwan, and Putin gets stopped.”
Why It Matters: Graham’s remarks stemmed from discussions surrounding a short-term deal that excluded funding for both Ukraine and the U.S. border. He proposed a more substantial supplemental budget of $60-$70 billion to sustain Ukraine’s support for the upcoming year.
Earlier this year, Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv and commended the $75 billion funding allocated by President Joe Biden’s administration to Ukraine. Graham described it as “the best money we’ve ever spent” because “Russians were dying.” This led to Russia issuing an arrest warrant against him.
These comments by Senator Graham occur amidst China’s ongoing efforts to promote integration and peaceful reunification with Taiwan while increasing military and political pressure on Taipei to accept Beijing’s sovereignty. China has conducted military exercises near the island and dispatched warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone, heightening regional tensions.
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