Question

Background information: This passage is also from Antony Blinken’s 2021 policy speech.

Shoring up our democracy is a foreign policy imperative. Otherwise, we play right into the hands of adversaries and competitors like Russia and China, who seize every opportunity to sow doubts about the strength of our democracy. We shouldn’t be making their jobs easier.

–US Secretary of State Antony Blinken,
March 3, 2021

How does this speech relate domestic policy to national security?

Weakening US democracy makes Russia and China grow stronger.
Weakening US democracy also weakens Russia and China.
Strengthening US democracy also strengthens Russia and China.
Strengthening US democracy does not affect Russia and China.

Answer 1

Weakening US democracy makes Russia and China grow stronger.

Explanation: Blinken argues that domestic democratic weakness helps adversaries like Russia and China by allowing them to sow doubt and exploit U.S. vulnerabilities, so shoring up democracy is a national security imperative.