While many of the heavily debated topics in the election have been domestic issues, equal emphasis has been placed on the country’s foreign interactions. From the two wars that the U.S. has had a heavy involvement in to international relations, voters are paying special attention to candidate stances.

Tensions in the Middle East continue to stay relevant for voters and politicians alike as the war between Israel and Hamas continues. The U.S. has sent roughly $22.76 billion in military aid funds to Israel.

“Neither candidate is particularly vocal about changes to Middle East policy, which leaves the main difference to framing,” junior William Hanna said.

Harris has called for a two-state solution to the conflict, leaving both sides with territory, and has advocated for aid in Gaza, but also supports Israel’s right to defend itself. Meanwhile, Trump has expressed that he is not interested in a separate Palestinian state.

For voters, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has continued to worsen throughout the war, has been a large factor of discussion.

Junior Lucille Brooks feels that those able to vote should consider the conditions of these civilians. Since Oct. 7, at least 42,600 people in Gaza have been killed, which includes nearly 16,765 children, according to the Al Jazeera live data tracking casualties.

“So many people are dying, and we haven’t really had an accurate count in a while, but estimations are getting way up high, and it’s just really horrifying that both of our presidential candidates are condoning it,” Brooks said.

Compared to other foreign policy issues, the looming threat of the environment’s decline involves international cooperation to resolve a worldwide problem. As a foreign policy issue, the climate crisis has the potential to affect geopolitical relations between countries as debate arises over solutions, and potential border conflicts due to the physical effects of climate.

“[Climate change] transcends borders, ethnicity, and gender… while impacting everything from natural disasters to migration patterns and economic stability,” junior Evan Morris said. “I think that we should all keep this in the forefront of our minds this election season because we are the generation that will face the consequences.”

The presidential candidates differ on the issue. Harris supports Biden’s climate policies and sees the crisis as a threat, while Trump doubts that human involvement is responsible for climate change, and has talked about expanding fossil fuel production.

The U.S. has been a firm supporter of Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, providing billions in aid for military support. While both candidates agree that it is in the U.S.’s best interest to end the war, they differ on how. Harris has advocated for and, as VP, represented the U.S. in aiding Ukraine until the war ends; Trump has said that he has no intentions of continuing to fund Ukraine if elected.
Hanna believes that Ukraine is an important foreign policy issue to consider in the upcoming election, especially toward democracy as a whole.
“If we cut our funding to Ukraine, which is what many Americans seem to want, Ukraine would likely be conquered in fairly short order,” they said. “It sets a dangerous precedent, especially for places like Taiwan.”
Taiwan, a now democratic country, was previously under authoritarian rule by the Republic of China.
As involved as the U.S. is in international relations, it is no surprise that voters have been vocal about knowing candidates’ stances and
plans for tackling foreign policy.
“People care about international issues out of … respect for the lives and situations of people around the world,” Hanna said. “I find it so crucial to stay tuned in to what’s going on in other parts of the world.”