LONDON (Reuters) – Republican U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized on Monday that the “survival of the West” hinges on countries giving precedence to their national interests before extending support to neighboring nations. Addressing the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London via video link, Johnson asserted that the United States can only uphold its “strength and leadership” by basing its foreign policy on national interests.
Johnson emphasized the need for each country to prioritize addressing internal issues before extending assistance to others. He stated, “It’s a matter of common sense for each of our countries to acknowledge that we must each take care of our own houses before we help take care of the neighborhood.” Johnson added, “As we strive to enhance the safety, strength, and prosperity of America, we will encourage all our friends and allies to do the same within their respective countries.”
Johnson’s comments did not directly reference Ukraine. However, they follow remarks made a day earlier by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who indicated that Ukraine and Europe would be involved in any substantive negotiations aimed at ending Moscow’s conflict. Rubio downplayed European concerns about potentially being excluded from initial talks between Russia and the United States in the upcoming days.
Washington initiated communication with European capitals to solicit their contributions towards security guarantees for Kyiv. Notably, former President Trump recently disclosed that he held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, concerning efforts to halt the war in Ukraine, without prior consultation with European nations.
(Reporting by William James; Writing by Catarina Demony; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
