A Conversation with Congressman Michael McCaul
Please join the Wilson Center for a wide-ranging conversation with Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Overview
In this wide-ranging conversation between Wilson Center President Jane Harman and Representative Michael McCaul (R-TX), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Congressman discussed U.S. policy in global hot spots, including Venezuela; the implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative; the relationship between the United States and Russia; ongoing conflicts in the Middle East; and the future of negotiations with North Korea.
Congressman McCaul also previewed the foreign policy challenges facing the 116th Congress and shared his perspective on how the U.S. and its allies can best advance shared interests to enhance global stability, promote democracy, and counter aggressive tendencies and threats from adversaries.
Selected Quotes
Rep. Michael McCaul
“When you have Russian military assets now being put into Venezuela to back up Maduro, and one can only imagine the doomsday scenario where they would say let us build a military port in Caracas and we’ll keep you in power. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen. But one thing is clear to me--as long as Maduro is there, we’re gonna continue to have this problem. And I think the real question is how you get rid of him, and I think that’s a very difficult foreign policy challenge. ”
“I think when they [President Trump and Kim Jong-Un] had the meeting in Hanoi, and the North Koreans only divulged probably half of their nuclear sites, that was not good faith. And I think the decision to walk away was a good one… And I think just to get a deal, if it’s a bad deal, you have to know when to walk away.”
“So I think if you seal the border, you cut off significant trade and it will have a significant impact on the economy. And I think the president made that statement out of frustration, I think he is very frustrated that we have a hundred thousand per month now trying to get into the country… And this is part of why he is threatening to cut the foreign aid off as well… I don’t think he is going to actually, completely shut off the border. It would have a significant impact to our economy.”
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