The Reagan National Defense Forum, an annual gathering of political and defense leaders, took place in Simi Valley, California. This year’s theme was “Peace Through Strength in a Time of Transition,” with discussions featuring members of Congress, administration officials, senior military leadership, as well as executives from the defense industry and technology sectors.
U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and co-chairs the Senate Defense Modernization Caucus, participated in a panel titled “A Secure and Free Europe: NATO, Ukraine, and the Arsenal of Democracy.” During the panel discussion moderated by Karen DeYoung from The Washington Post, Cramer addressed American public opinion regarding Ukraine’s negotiations amidst territorial disputes. He stated: “I’m not surprised a majority of Americans overall support Ukraine entering some sort of negotiation, even if it means giving up some territory.” He further elaborated on the diverse views within his party about America’s role in supporting Ukraine.
Other participants included Brian Schimpf, Co-Founder and CEO of Anduril Industries; Pål Jonson, Sweden’s Minister for Defense; Ryan McCarthy, former Secretary of the U.S. Army; and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
The forum’s discussions were timely given shifts in priorities and leadership following the 2024 elections. These changes have raised questions about America’s global leadership role and its position within NATO amid ongoing concerns over peace and stability in Europe nearly three years after Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Central to these conversations was how America could enhance its capacity to serve as what President Franklin D. Roosevelt once called “the arsenal of democracy.” This term was used during World War II to describe America’s commitment to leveraging its industrial strength to support struggling democracies against fascism.
In October prior to this event, Senator Cramer joined Palmer Luckey from Anduril Industries at a town hall at the University of North Dakota. There they discussed how smaller defense companies are contributing to revitalizing this concept of an “arsenal of democracy.” Additionally, Cramer had attended last year’s Reagan National Defense Forum where he engaged in discussions about national service enhancement and military readiness.
