Santorum was a U.S. Congressman and Senator from Pennsylvania from 1991-2006. He was elected to the House representing Pennsylvania’s 18th District in 1990 and was elected to the Senate in 1994.

Santorum is a strong believer in American exceptionalism and an internationalist regarding foreign policy. Throughout his career, he has been a strong advocate for humanitarian and development assistance to the developing world. During his service in Congress, he was a champion of bolstering the International Affairs Budget and was active on global health issues, particularly in support of programs to fight HIV/AIDS. He was a strong advocate for the president’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the creation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.

Santorum is a firm believer in democracy promotion and favors an aggressive stance against countries such as Iran, including sponsoring groups seeking to overthrow the Tehran government. He is a supporter of international trade, voting in favor of numerous trade agreements while in Congress.

Santorum on America’s Global Leadership

(On Cuba) “We should make it very clear that if you want mountains of aid, if you want normal relationships, if you want to improve your economy, if you want to have the opportunity for freedom, that the United States stands ready now to embrace you now that you`ve gotten rid of these tyrants.” (NBC Debate, January 2012)¹

“Because many Americans work for companies which export, I’ll initiate negotiations in the first 100 days and submit to Congress five free trade agreements during my first year in office to increase exports.” (Op-ed, February 2012)²

“We will stand with the true advocates of freedom who define freedom not just by a ballot box, but also by meaningful protections for minorities. This is the message of freedom that should be proclaimed and practiced from Cairo to Tehran. This is consistent with universal human dignity, our values and our national security interests.” (Op-ed, January 2012)³

“It is one of our best international investments,” he said, citing past U.S. relief in the form of AIDS prevention and anti-viral drugs, “especially considering less than one percent of our budget goes to such foreign aid.” (Foreign Policy address, April 2011)⁴

“Our lifesaving efforts abroad, like PEPFAR, are the brightest and most effective way America can show the world our true values. We reach out to help people in need because of who we are and what we believe. This is a responsibility placed upon us as the most powerful nation on earth. It’s a vital part of our foreign policy in an unstable, interconnected and often hostile world. And, it’s a moral imperative we must answer as fellow human beings.” (Op-ed in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 2008)⁵

“According to the Congressional Budget Office, funding since 2001 for military operations and other war-related activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the struggle against terrorism will total $752 billion. As [Secretary] Gates suggested, investments in “soft power” — such as PEPFAR — play no less vital a role in our war on terror.” (Op-ed in Politico, April 2008)⁶

“Some balk at PEPFAR’s $50 billion price tag, but this may be some of the best money Congress can spend. It not only addresses a grave humanitarian crisis, it helps protect our nation.” (Op-ed in Politico, April 2008)⁷

Santorum on Diplomacy

“Let me be very clear: To negotiate with hardened Socialist states or whitewash and ignore their threats and actions is to accommodate its leaders and its aggression. And that is surrender.” (Speech at National Press Club, April 2011)⁸

Santorum on Development

“Well, as the author of the Global Fund Bill and the Millennium Challenge in the United States Senate and someone who worked with the president on PEPFAR to deal with the issue of AIDS in Africa, I believe it’s absolutely essential.

 Africa was a country on the brink. On the brink of complete meltdown and chaos, which would have been fertile ground for the radical Islamists to be able to — to get — to get a foothold.

 We’re seeing it already. But the work that we’ve done in stabilizing that area, while humanitarian in nature, was absolutely essential for our national security.
 
And I hear people up here talking abut zeroing out foreign aid and humanitarian aid in particular. I think that’s absolutely the wrong course. 

You want to — you want to spend more money on the military, zero out all the things we do to develop relationships around the world and we will spend a lot more money on the military.
 
It’s important for us to use all the assets we have. Promote our values. America is that shining city on the hill. It is — it is the city that comes to the aid of those in trouble in America — in the world.

 We have done more good for America in Africa and in the third world by the things that we’ve done. And we have saved money and saved military deployments by wisely spending that money not on our enemies but on folks who can and will be our friends.” ⁹ – Watch the video

“We need to keep and expand our commitment to humanitarian aid, especially in Africa. China and Islam are competing for the hearts and minds of much of Africa, and we cannot turn our back from the investment and commitments we have made. I helped lead many of our efforts to address third-world debt and the global AIDS crisis, and our investments have paid off.” ¹⁰

In a 10-point plan to “re-establish America’s standing in the world,” Santorum called on the government to fulfill its commitment to humanitarian aid, particularly in Africa, calling it a “pro-life foreign policy.” ¹¹

Videos

1. http://www.cfr.org/us-election-2012/republican-debate-transcript-tampa-florida-january-2012/p27180?cid=rss-u.s.strategyandpolitics-republican_debate_transcript,_-012312
2. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577243133837070396.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
3. http://www.ricksantorum.com/oped/no-more-leading-behind-america
4. http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/santorum-attacks-obama-on-defense-cuts-argues-for-international-aid-20110428
5. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08219/902030-35.stm#ixzz1KBTzfte7
6. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9629_Page2.html
7. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0408/9629.html
8. http://www.p2012.org/santorum/santorum042811sp.html
9. http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1111/22/se.06.html
10. http://www.ricksantorum.com/10-steps-promote-our-interests-around-world
11. http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/santorum-attacks-obama-on-defense-cuts-argues-for-international-aid-20110428