Vice President Harris recently highlighted Iran as the primary adversary of the United States during a segment of her '60 Minutes' interview that did not make it to the full broadcast on Monday.
When asked to name the top US foe, Harris pointed to Iran, citing the country's history of actions that have resulted in American casualties. She specifically mentioned Iran's attack on Israel involving 200 ballistic missiles and emphasized the importance of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear capabilities as a key priority.
While Harris did not confirm whether she would authorize preemptive measures against an Iranian nuclear facility if evidence of nuclear weapon development surfaced, she stressed the significance of addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Regarding the US stance on Taiwan and potential Chinese aggression, Harris refrained from discussing hypothetical scenarios but emphasized the need to uphold the 'One China' policy while supporting Taiwan's defense capabilities to ensure the freedom of the Taiwan Strait.
Her comments align with the traditional US approach of strategic ambiguity concerning Taiwan, although President Biden has previously indicated a willingness to defend Taiwan against Chinese aggression.
Harris emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication with China, particularly in military matters, underscoring the significance of military-to-military dialogue.
Overall, Vice President Harris's remarks shed light on the administration's foreign policy priorities and the nuanced approach to addressing challenges posed by Iran and China.