section_path: Political positions/Foreign policy
section_name: Foreign policy
paragraph_text: Foreign policy
  
  In November 2009, Hegseth supported sending additional forces into Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan. He advocated for withdrawing from Afghanistan in his interview with the National Review, but argued that special operators should remain in the country and that the Afghan Army should be supported to avert a conflict.
  
  Hegseth has criticized NATO and the United Nations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he called Putin a war criminal; he later told Fox News host Harris Faulkner that the invasion was less significant than " wokeness " and crime. He has criticized United States military aid to Ukraine. In January 2020, he supported Donald Trump's threat for the destruction of Iranian cultural sites.
  
  Hegseth has supported the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu. After Netanyahu was expected to be criminally charged in March 2019 for alleged bribery and fraud, he posted a video of Hegseth describing him as a "great friend to the United States". He has argued that the Chinese government is "building a military to defeat the United States" and repeated claims by Trump that "tens of thousands of Chinese nationals" have been sent to the Mexico–United States border. In May 2020, Hegseth said the "communist Chinese" want to "end our civilization".
  
  In November 2009, Hegseth supported sending additional forces into Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan. He advocated for withdrawing from Afghanistan in his interview with the National Review, but argued that special operators should remain in the country and that the Afghan Army should be supported to avert a conflict.
  
  Hegseth has criticized NATO and the United Nations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he called Putin a war criminal; he later told Fox News host Harris Faulkner that the invasion was less significant than " wokeness " and crime. He has criticized United States military aid to Ukraine. In January 2020, he supported Donald Trump's threat for the destruction of Iranian cultural sites.
  
  Hegseth has supported the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu. After Netanyahu was expected to be criminally charged in March 2019 for alleged bribery and fraud, he posted a video of Hegseth describing him as a "great friend to the United States". He has argued that the Chinese government is "building a military to defeat the United States" and repeated claims by Trump that "tens of thousands of Chinese nationals" have been sent to the Mexico–United States border. In May 2020, Hegseth said the "communist Chinese" want to "end our civilization".