Secretary Bob Gates, Governor John Kasich Urge U.S. Leadership Overseas in Election-Focused Foreign Policy Forum

COLUMBUS — Former Secretary of Defense Bob Gates and Ohio Governor John Kasich joined the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition along with over 550 Ohio business, faith, and veteran leaders to discuss how America’s engagement abroad spurs economic growth here in Ohio and promotes our national security. “As a nation, we must embrace the burdens and the benefits of being a global leader. American leadership is needed now more than ever around the world. If we don’t step up, we leave a vacuum and may not like who fills the void. In a time of growing global challenges, our civilian programs – alongside our military – are more critical to support than ever before,” said Secretary Gates. “We are such a force of good,” said Governor John Kasich. “The world needs us to lead, the world wants us to lead, and we ourselves can never afford to shrink from that.”
Ohio is home to some of the largest global brands and organizations with rapidly growing international operations in emerging markets. Last year, Ohio exported $50.7 billion in goods and services overseas, and trade supported more than one in five local jobs, making U.S. international engagement a strategic economic issue for the state