Huntsman: Interesting Asia-Pacific Policy

Image via WikipediaJon Huntsman delivered his first major foreign policy address yesterday in New Hampshire.  Calling for America to turn west, the speech was thoughtful and articulate, and it drew heavily on Huntsman's experiences as a diplomat.

In particular, three things leaped out.  First, Huntsman leaned on his various experiences living abroad.  That represents quite a stark change from recent GOP primaries in which candidates had not traveled extensively (other than as members of CoDels) or were not fluent in other languages:

"I’ve lived overseas four times. I’ve seen the world as a diplomat, as a businessman, as a humanitarian. I’ve lived in and seen what our most significant competitor nations are doing to prepare for the rest of the 21st Century. And I have a very clear vision of what America must do as well."

Second, Huntsman announced support for India to receive a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.  Currently, only the five veto powers (US, UK, France, Russia, and China) have permanent seats.  Huntsman's position is an interesting one: India is the second-most populous nation in the world, has the ninth-largest economy, could serve as a counterweight to China in the coming decades.

Huntsman is probably correct that the Security Council needs reform, and he is perceptive that the US will get more "friendship points" naming India first.  But he seems to brush aside the tremendous cost of his proposal.  Huntsman's proposal will surely infuriate both China and Pakistan.  Additionally, Japan (#3 economy), Germany (#4 economy), and Brazil (#7 economy) all have strong claims for a permanent seat and will lose significant international face if only India is added to the Council. 

Third, Hunstman's theme could be described as either nuanced or inconsistent.  He uses uncharacteristically strong rhetoric against nation-building and in his claim that America's "future is not in the Hindu Kush Mountains of Afghanistan."  He also combines a slightly isolationist "come home" message ("Only Pakistan can save Pakistan.  Only Afghanistan can save Afghanistan. And right now we should focus on America saving America.") with a touch of the traditional Democratic message that the US should not presume to tell other nations what to do ("We cannot dictate fundamental changes upon an age-old civilization from afar.").  But then he bends back to hit a hawkish note on Iran.

All in all, a very interesting speech.  Win or lose, Huntsman will continue to be a voice in American foreign policy as he gets, more than almost any of his colleagues (with the potential exception of Romney), that the 21st century will be a Pacific one.

Quick plug: Huntsman for Secretary of State in a Romney administration?