Pricilla Gonzalez Foreign Policy Agenda
Putting Louisiana First in a Dangerous World
For too long, American foreign policy has been written by and for the wealthy and well-connected. It has prioritized corporate profits, military contracts, and the interests of foreign governments over the needs of working families in the 3rd District. Foreign aid has become a system where the poor of a rich country give to the rich of a poor country. We have spent trillions on forever wars while our roads crumble, our hospitals close and our citizens lose their lives. We have sent our sons and daughters to fight in conflicts that had no clear mission and no clear end. We have watched as trade deals shipped our jobs overseas while corporate executives got richer.
It is time for a new approach. A foreign policy that puts diplomacy first, that respects human rights and protects American workers. I pledge first and foremost I will never let the executive branch get away with sending our soldiers to fight a war that is not authorized by Congress, I will uphold the constitution. A foreign policy that recognizes that our security at home is our energy independence, our coastal resilience and our economic might which is inseparable from our actions abroad.
This is a foreign policy for Louisiana and in the interests of Louisianians. I will be a voice for working families, for veterans, for farmers and fishermen, and for all those who have been left behind by a foreign policy that serves the few at the expense of the many.
Israel and Palestine
The conflict in the region has lasted generations and since the October 7th attacks there has been a catastrophic toll on Palestinian lives in Gaza. Israel has committed a genocide in Gaza which is cited not only by this campaign but by multiple human rights organisations and bodies around the world including B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights, two major Israeli human rights organizations. The United States has a responsibility to uphold international law and human rights, yet our government has repeatedly provided unconditional military aid that enables the continuation of this conflict without accountability.
I believe in a foreign policy rooted in human rights and international law. The United States should be a force for peace, not a facilitator of endless war. We must recognize legitimate aspirations of nations that seek security, self-determination and dignity. A lasting peace cannot be achieved through military force, it requires diplomacy & justice.
I support an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the upholding of the ICC arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim Al-Masri, Yoav Gallant and any other Israeli or Hamas leaders accused of crimes against humanity.
In order for there to be a sustainable solution for Palestinian self-determination, all illegal settlements in the West Bank and Gaza are ordered to be condemned and sanctioned.
I will vote against all unconditional military aid that enables the loss of civilian life; aid must be tied to strict adherence to human rights standards and international law. I support the right of Americans to peacefully protest and speak out on this issue without fear of censorship or retaliation. As a member of Congress, I will fight to ensure our tax dollars fund peace, not bombs.
I also pledge never to take a dime from the Israel Lobby or AIPAC unlike my opponent who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Israel Lobby.
Our communities know the cost of war. Louisiana has a proud military tradition, and we know there is a difference between an organised conflict and a genocide. It is time to invest in diplomacy and divest from war. Palestine should be recognised as a sovereign nation and have needed aid sent into Gaza without the military blockade from Israel.
Iran
Donald Trump’s illegal war in Iran has resulted in 18 deaths of U.S. service members. This war has caused a rise in the cost of living by the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz as well as the administration’s inability to negotiate a peace from a war they started.
Diplomacy must now take over where mindless bombardment has failed. I will introduce legislation to Congress that shall force peace negotiations to rest with Congress and allow members of the House of Representative and Senate to take part in these negotiations.
Further the United States should seek to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon through verifiable agreements with partners in the region such as Oman and Pakistan. We must also recognize that regime change has been a catastrophic failure in Iraq and Libya, we should never repeat that mistake in Iran.
I believe that if Israel decides to unilaterally attack Iran we should withhold support in their attack. If the U.S. asks to strike Iran, we should say no.
We are lucky that no sons and daughters of Louisiana have yet been killed, but how long until this dire war results in the loss of our children.
Ukraine
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is a grave violation of international law and a threat to democracy. The United States has provided significant military and economic aid to Ukraine, which has been essential to Ukraine’s defense. However, the war has become a protracted conflict with no clear end in sight, and the costs both human and financial continue to mount.
I support continued aid to Ukraine, but with stricter oversight and accountability. I support sanctions against Russia and its oligarchy and I support efforts to seize frozen Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s reconstruction. I support diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to the war that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity.
I believe that Ukraine’s resources should belong to Ukraine and that any attempt to seize them from foreign powers, including from the President of the United States should be condemned.
Canada
Canada is the United States’ closest ally, largest trading partner and most important neighbour in trade. I believe that Trump’s tariffs will cost Louisianian families a lot. We must oppose these illegal tariffs by hindering the executives ability to simply impose and remove tariffs whenever they wish.
We should pursue a free trade policy with Canada on goods and services to ensure that we are able to grow both our economies and hold a strong relationship between Americans and Canadians.
I support further trade agreements to include strong labor and environmental protections. We should cooperate further on energy, timber and new technology advancements in agriculture and wildlife protection.
Louisiana’s farmers, manufacturers and energy workers depend on trade with Canada. Our ports in Lake Charles and Lafayette handle goods that move back and forth across the border. The trade war with Canada is destroying jobs and raising prices in our district. I will fight for fair, stable and predictable trade policies that protect Louisiana workers and families.
Europe
The transatlantic alliance has been the cornerstone of global security and prosperity for decades. NATO has maintained peace in Europe and provided a framework for cooperation on trade, climate and human rights. Yet in recent years, the relationship has been strained by political divisions, trade disputes and a lack of American leadership. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reminded us of the importance of a strong, united Europe.
I believe that the United States is stronger when it works with its democratic allies. NATO is a unifying force across two continents that share mutual defense systems and policies. I say that we should continue to support NATO.
I support increased cooperation with the European Union on climate, trade and technology regulation. I oppose trade policies that harm our allies and undermine our shared economic interests. I support a coordinated approach to Russia, China and global challenges that recognizes the importance of democracy and liberty.
Louisiana’s shared history with Europe is key to our identity. A strong Europe means a strong market for our exports and a stable global economy. I will work to strengthen our alliances and ensure that Louisiana workers benefit from fair and open trade with Europe.
Latin America
The United States has a long and complicated history with Latin America, including interventions, coups and support for authoritarian regimes. This history has created distrust and resentment. In recent years, the focus has been on border security and immigration enforcement rather than on addressing the root causes of migration: poverty, violence, corruption and the climate crisis.
I believe that the United States should treat Latin American nations as partners, not adversaries. We should respect their sovereignty, support democratic institutions and address the root causes of migration through development aid and diplomacy. We should not militarize our borders or demonize our neighbors.
I support comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship and addressing the root causes of migration. I support increased development aid to Central America and the Caribbean to address poverty, violence and climate. I oppose military intervention in Latin America and support diplomatic engagement with governments across the political spectrum. I support fair trade policies that protect workers and the environment.
Louisiana has a deep cultural and economic tie to Latin America. Our ports handle trade with Mexico and the Caribbean. Our communities include vibrant Latino populations who contribute to our economy and culture. I will work to build partnerships, not walls and to ensure that our immigration policies reflect our values and economic needs.
Cuba
I support an end to the economic embargo on Cuba as well as the removal of Guantanamo Bay detention camp and return of its territory to Cuba. We must end interference in the Cuban government and cease hostilities. There are many issues that the Cuban people face as a result of the economic embargo which results in a loss of trade for the U.S. as well as a deeply immoral policy of containment which should have been left behind years ago.
We should renew relations, end the sanctions and allow people to move freely in both trading goods and services as well as accessing their own lands and allow those to return home without fear of consequence.
Africa
The United States has historically viewed Africa through a lens of charity rather than opportunity. China and Russia have expanded their influence in Africa while the United States has failed to develop a coherent strategy. The defunding of USAID has reduced our influence in the continent and has caused resentment.
I believe that Africa is a continent of the future, not a problem to be managed. We should treat African nations as partners in trade, investment and diplomacy. We should respect their sovereignty, support democratic institutions and address shared challenges like climate change and public health.
Furthermore we should address the crisis in the Congo and Sudan.
I support a full federal investigation in exploitation of Congolese miners as well as the armed resistance movements in the Eastern DR Congo. The M23 rebel group should be investigated and its leaders should be sent to the Hague. I support the ICC arrest warrants for its leadership.
In Sudan we are witnessing a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis. I will introduce legislation to put enforcement mechanisms on the ICC arrest warrants and support the U.S. definition of the Rapid Support Forces as a terrorist organisation. We must send economic and humanitarian aid to the people of Sudan to prevent them from facing further losses.
China
China is a major global competitor, and the United States must be clear-eyed about challenges we face which include unfair trade practices, human rights abuses and military assertiveness. However, the response must not be a new Cold War that risks catastrophic conflict or demonizes Chinese-Americans. We must compete where necessary and cooperate where possible.
I believe that the future in terms of technological advancement lies within China. The United States has failed to catch up to China’s abilities in producing chips, electric vehicles and even on renewable energy. We should, for the sake of economic growth and influence of our values, engage with China. Trade should be encouraged on new technologies and we should push American/Chinese scientific collaboration.
I however will remain steadfast in defending human rights in China particularly in Hong Kong, Tibet and Xinjiang. We must also collaborate with China on the prevention of global islamic terrorism as we have seen that the East Turkistan Islamic Movement has had past ties with ISIS and Al-Qaeda. We must work together to prevent the rise in Islamic Extremism in both East and West.
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