The Mt. Diablo Peace & Justice Center Research Group has identified a set of key foreign policy issues we will be tracking throughout the election season. Our hope is that these guides will be a useful resource for those wishing to stay up to date on the current stances/statements of prospective presidential candidates.

U.S. Powers: Role of executive vs. Congress; use of economic sanctions; deploying special forces and drones; demands for regime change
Nuclear Weapons: Next- generation research and development; nonproliferation and ABM treaties; removal of hair-trigger response; negotiating elimination of first-strike capacity  
Military Budget: National defense priorities; potential budget cuts; overseas bases; eliminating specific weapons systems
Immigration: Border security; criminal vs. civil offenses; immigration courts and due process; ICE compliance; refugee status and asylum; family reunification
Russia: Approach to improving diplomacy; curbing cyber-warfare; renewing weapons treaties; expansion of NATO to Ukraine and Georgia 
China: Trade war; pursuit of multinational agreements; advanced technology transfers; 5G telecom and national security; territory disputes in South China Sea 
Korea: Engagement with North Korea on nuclear weapons; U.S. bases in South Korea; Korean reunification
Israel / Palestine: Status of occupied territories and Gaza; civil rights for Palestinians; suppression of domestic boycott-divestment-sanctions movement
Syria: Continued U.S. military presence; ISIS terrorism threat; future of Kurdish minority; negotiation with Assad government
Saudi Arabia: Sale of weapons used in Yemen war; political support for Saudi monarchy; targeting regional Shia influence 
Iran: Return to non-nuclear pact; use of economic sanctions; political links to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen
Venezuela: Support for hemispheric interventions; use of economic sanctions; targeting nations for regime change
Afghanistan: Withdrawal of U.S troops, negotiations with Taliban, Chinese influence in region