Gallego Delivers Keynote at Foreign Policy for America’s 2026 Leadership Summit

WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Ruben Gallego (D‑AZ) delivered keynote remarks at Foreign Policy for America’s 2026 Leadership Summit, outlining his vision for a foreign policy rooted in economic security, strategic discipline, and strong alliances. In his remarks, Senator Gallego emphasized that America’s global leadership begins with its strength at home: “Foreign policy starts at home. Our standing in the world is only as strong as the economy and the values we have here in America. When we engage abroad, it must be with a clear plan, a moral compass, and a deep respect for working Americans who end up paying the price when things go wrong.” He also discussed the below issues: On Iran: “This war in Iran wasn’t planned, wasn’t authorized by Congress, and working families are stuck with the bill every single day. It’s costing us a billion dollars a day—money that should be going to schools, to bridges, to veterans—not to a dumb, illegal war with no plan to end it.” On Ukraine: “Ukraine can win this war, and Ukraine must win this war. They’ve shown the future of warfare—destroying Russia’s Black Sea fleet not with billion‑dollar legacy systems, but with drones costing less than $20,000. We need to learn from them and stand with our allies when it matters most.” On China: “America’s asymmetric advantage in the world is that we have allies. China has customers and clients. If we push our friends away or treat them as secondary, we are making China stronger. But if we combine our economies, our moral direction, and our shared values with our allies, we have a fighting chance—alone, we do not.” Recently, the Senator also spoke at the McCain Institute’s Sedona Forum on a panel on Ukraine, at the Atlantic Council on the Colombian elections, and at the Munich Security Forum on the Western Hemisphere.