Retired Captain James Fanell and Peter Navarro appeared on Friday’s WarRoom and criticized the Biden administration’s foreign policy, focusing on Thailand’s decision to purchase Swedish aircraft instead of American F-16s.
“When you make F-16s here in the United States, that’s a bunch of jobs, good wages,” Navarro explained.
The conversation highlighted the economic and strategic ramifications of this shift and its reflection of broader diplomatic failures.
Navarro, who had a significant role in the Trump administration’s arms transfer policies, underscored the importance of the F-16 program.
He added that transferring arms to allies not only supports American industries but also reduces the need for U.S. military presence abroad. “We had a robust F-16 arms sales program,” Navarro noted, expressing frustration at the loss of this important contract due to what he views as inadequate foreign policy.
Fanell, who previously served as Director of Intelligence for the Pacific Fleet, emphasized the broader implications of Thailand’s decision. He described the move as a result of U.S. diplomatic failures, particularly under the Obama administration, and continued under Biden.
“We have been turning our back on the Kingdom of Thailand,” Fanell said, linking this neglect to Thailand’s pivot towards China. He detailed how diplomatic tensions began in 2014, following a military coup in Thailand. “The Obama Administration made a big fuss out of it,” Fanell recounted, which he argues led to a deterioration in U.S.-Thai relations.
Fanell highlighted the consequences of this neglect, noting that Thailand’s new government, sympathetic to China, has increasingly engaged with Chinese military and infrastructure projects. “Thailand is now working with China on building a canal,” Fanell pointed out, emphasizing that this shift is detrimental to U.S. interests in the region. He lamented that the U.S. has been pushing allies like Thailand into China’s orbit through what he views as neglectful foreign policy.
Navarro and Fanell both criticized the Biden administration’s approach to international relations. Navarro accused the current administration of “punishing” allies and allowing them to drift towards adversarial states. Fanell agreed, noting that the U.S. State Department’s and Pentagon’s failure to maintain strong ties with Thailand and support the American military-industrial base has had serious repercussions. “It’s a crime to let Thailand slip into the Communist Chinese warp,” Fanell asserted, indicating his belief that the U.S. could have prevented this shift with better diplomatic engagement and support.
Both commentators stressed U.S. foreign policy. Navarro emphasized that a Trump administration would have addressed the issue more aggressively.
“If Trump were in the White House, we’d be sitting there talking to top leaders in Thailand,” Navarro argued, suggesting that the previous administration’s approach would have maintained stronger relationships with key allies.
Navarro and Fanell’s discussion exposed significant concerns about the current U.S. foreign policy direction and its impact on strategic alliances.
Their critique focuses on the need for a more engaged and supportive approach to maintain crucial relationships and safeguard American interests globally.
To hear more, watch the whole interview from Friday:
