Why the United States Needs Allies

The United States has a long-held reputation of being a loyal friend to our allies around the world for the benefit of all.

What makes a loyal friend? Keeping promises, knowing you can count on each other in any situation, cooperation in promoting common ideals, protecting each other, and standing up to common adversaries.

What happens when you do not act as a loyal friend? Loss of trust, loss of confidence, loss of communication, a need to turn to other friends when the need arises.

Unfortunately, our current administration has decided it doesn’t need the benefits of the friendships. The decisions to end our participation in the Paris Climate Agreement, the World Health Organization, and the Iran Nuclear Agreement, the pulling out of our troops from Germany, our President’s lack of support for NATO and the United Nations, and the open support of Putin and other autocratic leaders, are leading many of our allies to experience doubt about whether they can trust our commitment to the common good.

In addition to the critical policy issues we share with our allies that require cooperation, another important component of our relationships with foreign governments is the ability of our diplomats, foreign assistance, and military personnel to be welcomed and protected while overseas. We trust that our allies will provide security and aid in their country as we do for them in ours. In the past, we have taken that security and support for granted, but it was made very real to me on 9/11/2001 as a Navy Reservist serving in our embassy in Rome, when I personally experienced the care and support the United States had earned over the years.

I arrived only the day before for a three-week stint in the Defense Attaché Office at the American Embassy. I heard the news about the attack from my office in Washington, D.C. only a few minutes after reports that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in New York City. At first, no one knew that it was an act of terrorism against the United States. When the magnitude of the attack was understood, both the American and Italians responded with grief and disbelief.

The following days In Rome were memorable because the tragedy of the day hit everyone hard, including the Italians. We at the Embassy were all in shock and scared of what may come next, as well as what the long-term consequences to our security across the globe would be.

The shining light for me was the real love and concern the Italian people gave to me and to all Americans. It was as if the tragedy happened to them as well as to us. There were signs of sympathy to the United States in every shop window, hotel staff met me with hugs and tears and notes in my room. Everyone on the street spoke words of consolation. Many spoke about their commitment to America — that they were with us in our fight against terrorism.

On the weekend following 9/11, I walked by our Embassy and saw an Italian fire truck parked in the front, with a dozen Italian firemen laying wreaths of flowers in the front garden. They were there to give a memorial speech to honor the fallen New York firemen, their brothers in service. I was deeply affected by this show of sympathy and good will from our Italian friends.

My experience in Rome at this terrible time in our history represented to me the real reason we have a presence in foreign countries. We make friends, we build on relationships, we cooperate, we help each other when we are in need. It doesn’t happen in a few days or weeks, but over years of trust and commitment.

Now, more than ever, the United States needs to rebuild and maintain its reputation of trust and commitment with allies through the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, and the World Health Organization. We need to work together to solve the big issues of climate change, medical research, trade, and arms control among others. Our presence and cooperation with allies benefits all parties and protects our own national Interests.

As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden has vowed to re-engage with our allies, as well as to work in positive ways with our adversaries and to help each other with all the challenges we and the rest of the world face on so many fronts. We cannot walk away or ignore the friends we have if we want to make progress to solve common problems, but also to protect our diplomatic, foreign assistance, and military personnel who are working hard to maintain peace and security abroad.