U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul also tells Inside Texas Politics which areas of the world concern him most
DALLAS — Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Austin, believes in the old adage of peace through strength.
And the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said that, if it seems like some of the sizzle has fallen off some of the world’s hotspots since the November elections, then President-elect Donald Trump played a role in that.
“I think Trump provides a projection of strength and certainly not weakness,” the chairman told Jason Whitely on Inside Texas Politics. “He also projects unpredictability. Our adversaries don’t really know what he’s going to do — and that provides, I have to say, a fear factor.”
Congressman McCaul previously served as the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, so he’s considered an expert on national security and foreign affairs. And he told us that, while there’s still plenty in the world that concerns him — including two hot wars in a hot zone — one area of the globe, in particular, keeps him up at night.
“It’s really the Indo Pacific [that], if you play out war games, is more likely to be a source,” the Republican said. “When I get asked the question where would World War III occur, it would be most likely in the Indo-Pacific, which is why deterrence is so important.”
McCaul hopes the new presidential administration will bring that deterrence into play in 2025.
Because of term limits, McCaul will step down as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in 2025. He said it’s the best job he’s ever had, and he learned about every part of the globe — a worldview he wants to lean on in the next Congress.
Said McCaul: “I want to carry on the information, expertise I have to be a thought leader in the Congress, somebody who can lead on issues of foreign policy, national security and work with the incoming administration on how we can best achieve peace throughout the world and maintain our status as a superpower.”