INDIANAPOLIS | Gov. Mike Pence has again used an Indiana trade mission to stake foreign policy positions, declaring Tuesday the United States stands with Israel "against the forces that would reshape the land by aggression and terror."
In a Tel Aviv speech to the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce, the Republican said Israel is both America's strongest and most cherished ally in the Middle East and "a beacon of hope in a troubled region of the world."
"The truth is, America and Israel are bound together by the common foundation: a belief in faith, family, democracy and liberty. This belief is grounded in the timeless truths of the Bible," Pence said. "For as Israel and America prosper, so prospers freedom."
To that end, Pence called for continued U.S. funding of Israel's military operations and research, along with resumed U.S. production of the Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor military aircraft and eventual provision of the fighter/bomber to Israel.
A 1997 U.S. law prohibits sale of the now-discontinued plane to foreign nations.
The United States spent $66.7 billion, or approximately $356.7 million per plane, on the F-22 program that produced 187 operational aircraft between 1997 and 2012. It was ended in favor of Lockheed-Martin's F-35 Lightning II which offers a lower initial purchase price.
"Resuming production of the F-22 would give a needed jolt to our economy, supporting up to 95,000 highly paid and skilled jobs in 44 states, and send a decisive message to the world about America's commitment to national defense," Pence said.
The governor did not detail how the United States should pay for resuming F-22 aircraft production, or which federal programs and services he would cut to avoid deficit spending.
Lockheed-Martin, which opened an Israeli subsidiary in April, donated at least $11,500 to Pence's final Congressional campaign in 2010.
Pence is promoting Indiana's aerospace industry, alongside other components of the state's economy, during three days of meetings with Israeli business and government leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This is his fifth overseas trade mission since becoming governor in 2013, and the second this year where he seemingly has focused as much time on U.S. foreign policy as Indiana business.
In April, Pence told guests at a Friends of Indiana reception in Berlin -- in a speech promoted extensively on the conservative Fox News Channel -- that the "reset" of U.S.-Russian relations championed by President Barack Obama had failed.
He then called for the United States and its European allies to minimize future use of economic sanctions and instead take a more muscular position toward Russia, including construction of a European missile defense shield.
In fact, economic sanctions imposed following Russia's invasion of Ukraine have been followed by the collapse the Russian economy and a weakened Russian President Vladimir Putin at little cost to the United States.
Pence's regular inclusion of foreign policy matters in supposed economic development speeches is widely seen as an effort to build up his foreign policy credibility ahead of a potential 2016 run for president or vice president.
The governor insists he only is focused on winning jobs for Hoosiers.