Nirmala Sitharaman Quotes

I was Minister for the Armed Forces in the Ministry of Defence for two years prior to being appointed Defence Secretary.

It is not whether an independent Scotland could go it alone and develop its own defence forces - of course it could - but what sort of forces would they be?

Their [the U.S.’s] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as ‘their home — their fortress.’ And good for them, I say. Well done!

But the federal government, our collective government, has responsibilities that none of these other levels of government can fulfill; and chief among these is national defense.

I am extremely honoured to be the Defence Secretary, and I would not do the job if I did not think that I could make a useful contribution in the role.

When you are Commander in Chief, you should keep all your options on the table.

As the name of the agency suggests, 'Department of Defense,' the defense refers to the United States of America - not the defense of South Korea, not the defense of Ukraine, not the defense of Syria or Germany.

Internal security implies also an external dimension, a defence capacity.

The country needs leadership driven by the dictates of national security, not the ebb and flow of political fortunes.

Obviously, defence is very sensitive and very challenging ministry.

If somewhere is a deficiency the normal American answer would have been well then, let's spend some more money, build some more weapons and deploy them. That's the normal way of thinking of the military, in America not only but also all over the place, but America or Russia or other countries.

Using these new funds, I will ask my secretary of defense to propose a new defense budget to meet the following longtime goals.

Our military is a disaster.

If the military is to show the capabilities that we demand and expect of it, then the defense budget has to continue to rise.

It is an honor of a lifetime to be appointed secretary of defense and to lead the greatest military in history.

In the military, we can only do so much. The reality of it is if someone... really wants to make an impact on national security and the military as a whole... the person that has the ability to do that most is a knowledgeable civilian leader.

I've served in 25 nations. I've seen where people don't trust their government. We're there. In the military, the last option is to send in the SEALs.

As a national security aid, I worked with our military to strengthen our national defense.

There's so many things, when you're in national security, that you do that aren't perfect, but you do them because you think you're doing what the country needs to be safe.

A foreign policy aimed at the achievement of total security is the one thing I can think of that is entirely capable of bringing this country to a point where it will have no security at all.

I think that Donald Rumsfeld will go down in history as one of the worst secretaries of defense in history. We are paying a very heavy price for the mismanagement - that's the kindest word I can give you - of Donald Rumsfeld, of this war.

[Donald] Trump is speaking in Philadelphia on military matters. He's doing quite well. I want to join a little bit of this in progress just to give you a flavor for how Trump is sounding.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump basically share a policy of brute military strength. And both, I think, make a lot of Americans uneasy about our foreign policy going forward, which needs a frank discussion. Likewise on the issue of student debt and the future of our younger generation.

I love the veterans. And I'll take care of them. And they know that I'll take care of them. And that's going to be my job. But, also, I have the ability, and the knowledge, and the background to make the right judgments, to keep America safe and secure.

A stronger defense is an investment in peace.