Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has published his new book titled “Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love,” which was released by Roadside Books on January 24, 2023. The book offers insightful perspectives on both American foreign and domestic policy, while also providing details about Pompeo’s tenure in the Trump administration as Secretary of State and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The narrative includes a well-thought-out analysis of the most significant external threats facing the United States and highlights key allies of Washington, particularly in Asia and the Gulf region.
The Significance of the Gulf
Pompeo emphasizes the critical importance of Saudi Arabia to U.S. national security and the reliability of the bilateral relationship, regarding the Kingdom as a strategic ally of Washington. He notes that both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia played pivotal roles in advancing peace agreements that represent a significant development in the region.
In addressing the campaign against Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pompeo asserts that during Trump’s presidency, the U.S. moved forward in strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia. He points out the left’s criticisms of the Crown Prince, despite acknowledging that he is orchestrating the largest cultural reform in the Kingdom’s history, positioning himself as one of the most significant leaders of his time and a historically impactful figure on the global stage.
Pompeo highlights the significance of recent peace agreements with Israel, noting that prior to the Trump administration, influential figures from both the Republican and Democratic parties believed that Israel could not achieve peace with its Arab neighbors without first reaching an accord with the Palestinians. However, shared concerns over the potential dominance of Iran in the region led to a shift in these perspectives. He cites that mutual fears regarding Iranian influence, exacerbated by financial inflows due to the nuclear deal during the Obama administration, necessitated collaboration to combat this threat. Pompeo acknowledges the contributions of influential figures such as U.S. ambassadors in the UAE and Bahrain, as well as the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., in facilitating these agreements.
Additionally, Pompeo discusses Iran’s destabilizing actions in the region, attributing its interventions aimed at undermining Saudi Arabia and Iraq and supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon and Bashar al-Assad in Syria. He asserts that if Iran were to agree to refrain from exacerbating conditions in Yemen, Saudi Arabia would withdraw without objection and immediately provide humanitarian aid to the affected populations. The book also notes Saudi Arabia’s commitment to spending billions of dollars in leading the war against Islamic terrorist groups.
Furthermore, he commends the leadership vision of the UAE in adapting to regional developments, highlighting a new generation of Arab leaders who possess more open-minded views compared to previous nationalist ideologies. Among these leaders is Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who Pompeo describes as a staunch opponent of political Islam and emphasizes the UAE’s enhanced freedoms under his leadership for both its citizens and the millions of expatriates residing within its borders.
Pompeo also asserts that the UAE is a resource-rich country and a significant hub for international business and has welcomed Western ideas, universities, and values, including religious freedom, for many years. He emphasizes that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed understands that while the UAE’s economic power is crucial, it is not sufficient alone for achieving success and independence. He has consistently prioritized the UAE’s responsibility to lead in its regional context. Moreover, Pompeo notes the important role of National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan in coordinating with U.S. leaders to maintain regional stability.
Pompeo describes the announcement of the peace agreement with the UAE in August 2020 as a significant surprise to the world. Following this initial announcement, other countries followed suit, with Bahrain joining under the strong leadership of its Crown Prince and signing a deal to combat anti-Semitism and promote peace. Additionally, the U.S. has worked since October 2019 to remove Sudan from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, as Sudan became a vital partner in combating terror, which helped the U.S. persuade Sudan to recognize Israel. Morocco later joined these agreements in exchange for U.S. recognition of Western Sahara. In this context, Pompeo suggests that Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu both deserve a Nobel Prize for their historic achievement in preserving peace in the region.
The Iranian Threat
Pompeo discusses the Iranian threat to American interests and those of Arab countries, assessing Washington’s role in confronting this danger. He points out that Qassem Soleimani, who managed the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force since 1998, sought to spread Islamic revolution outside Iran’s borders, often through violence. Pompeo believes that Soleimani is fundamentally responsible for the chaos in countries like Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen today. He also claims that through guidance to proxy militias and terrorists, Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of over 600 American soldiers during the Iraq War.
In connection to Iranian aggression, Pompeo details how attacks on Saudi Aramco in retaliation against Washington followed the U.S. refusal to appease Iran through the lifting of sanctions. He recounts that on September 14, 2019, cruise missiles launched by Iran targeted significant oil facilities belonging to Aramco, threatening global energy supplies. According to Pompeo, the Saudis were quick to request assistance, leading to U.S. efforts to restore these facilities.
Despite the outcomes of these tensions, the book portrays President Trump’s reluctance to directly attack Iran, even as the Saudis sought clarity on the U.S. response to these dangerous circumstances. Pompeo claims that he recommended deploying air defense systems to Saudi Arabia and that Trump was close to providing defensive weapons. Ultimately, however, Trump chose not to pursue direct and costly military action against Iran, which Pompeo critiques, stating that the U.S. could have provided more security for itself by aiding Saudi Arabia more robustly. He expresses regret over not being able to organize a stronger response to such attacks, conveying a sense that the U.S. was losing deterrence against Iran.
Additionally, Pompeo asserts that the American sanctions campaign against the Iranian regime during Trump’s presidency was not perfect but successful. By imposing sanctions on over 1,500 Iranian targets, particularly in the oil industry, Washington deprived the Iranian regime of more than $70 billion in revenue that could have funded missile and nuclear programs and terrorist attacks. He notes that over 100 companies pulled out of Iran or canceled planned investments, resulting in further billions in losses for the country. Between 2017 and 2020, Iran’s GDP plummeted from $445 billion to $192 billion—nearly halving—while its global GDP ranking dropped from 31st to 51st. The sanctions also forced the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to reduce its budget by 20% between 2018 and 2020.
Pompeo criticizes the policies of Democrats and the Biden administration, praising the Trump administration’s approach, which he believes built its foreign policy on the principle of peace through the use of power against adversaries like Iran and Russia. He expresses the conviction that former President Obama’s reluctance to undertake a strong policy in Syria in 2013 contributed to Putin’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and that this pattern repeated itself with Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine in 2022. Pompeo argues that Putin perceived Biden’s administration as weak, prompting him to attack Kyiv.
The Challenge of China
The author posits that all American foreign policy challenges should be framed through the objective of halting the Chinese Communist Party, which he deems the largest external threat to the U.S. He supports this stance with several points. He claims that China seeks to dominate the international system on its own terms without concessions or agreements with the United States. In this context, the head of the U.S. Strategic Command stated that China’s intent is to “achieve military capability to reunify Taiwan by 2027, if not before.”
Pompeo advises that Washington must contain any Chinese superiority, advocating that the U.S. continue to compete in every field with China by controlling vital supply chains, protecting proprietary technology and data, and ensuring that the U.S. and its allies possess abundant and superior weaponry for self-defense. He stresses the need for U.S. institutions to focus on winning the competition with China, suggesting that the State Department should be more daring and willing to take risks.
The author also accuses China of being responsible for the spread of COVID-19, alleging that it “repeatedly delayed” sharing data and disseminated misleading information about the disease. He recounts telling G7 leaders in March 2020 that the disease should be named the “Wuhan virus.” However, the book reveals that Trump was displeased with this assertion, as he was worried after a phone call from President Xi, who warned him that Pompeo’s comments jeopardized the “Phase One” trade agreement between the U.S. and China. It is mentioned that Trump was also anxious about the U.S. dependence on China for medical supplies and accused Pompeo of risking “everyone’s safety” by antagonizing Xi.
The Indian Ally
In his book, Pompeo commends India, describing it as “America’s next great ally.” He outlines several reasons for this viewpoint. He emphasizes the natural alliance between the U.S. and India due to their shared history of democracy, a common language, and technological ties, along with India’s market demand for intellectual property and American products.
Additionally, the previous factors and India’s strategic position in South Asia render it central to his diplomacy in countering Chinese influence. He writes that, in his opinion, the coalition opposing China—comprising the U.S., India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, the UK, and the EU—will possess an economic weight at least three times that of China, which guided his focus on ensuring India emerges as America’s next great ally.
Pompeo further alleges that American intervention prevented a nuclear war between India and Pakistan. He notes that in February 2019, as tensions escalated, India conducted airstrikes against Islamabad, bringing the two nations to the brink of war. He highlights how a militant group in Pakistan claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 41 Indian soldiers in the contested Kashmir region, intensifying the conflict.
In conclusion, Pompeo underscores the need for vigilance in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in addressing challenges posed by Iran, China, and in nurturing alliances with nations like India to ensure stability and peace in an increasingly complex global landscape.
Source: Mike Pompeo, Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love, (USA: Roadside Books, 2023).
