Eight Republican presidential candidates will have their first opportunity to introduce themselves to all US voters during a debate on Wednesday night that will not include former president Donald Trump.
But with the former president opting to miss the debate for an alternative media opportunity and with the event likely to draw fewer viewers as a result, the first major event of the primary season gives candidates the opportunity to burnish their policy credentials.
That includes foreign policy, where relations with North Korea, Iran and China, as well as the war in Ukraine, remain important issues in the US.
Here, The National takes a look at where the eight debaters stand on foreign policy.
Doug Burgum, North Dakota governor
Recent comments about the war in Ukraine suggest North Dakota Governor sees China as the biggest threat to the US. While on the campaign trail in Iowa, Mr Burgum said Russia cannot win the war because it would be a win for Moscow and Beijing.
He also said the US is “absolutely in a cold war” with China, though it has yet to outline a strategy on how he would counteract China.
Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has tried to separate himself from Mr Trump over Ukraine.
“I have to tell you the truth: I don’t want to be the apple of Vladimir Putin’s eye,” Mr Christie said in response to a recent comment made by the former president.
He also made a surprise visit to war-torn Ukraine earlier in his candidacy but maintains that America's biggest rival is China and not Russia.
Mr Christie said continuing to support Ukraine financially would send a message to Iran and other nations that the US would defend its allies.
As a candidate during the 2016 election, Mr Christie accused then-president Barack Obama of “lying” to Americans when touting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Ron DeSantis, Florida governor
Ron DeSantis has worked hard to build his foreign policy chops in just a short period of time. In April, Mr DeSantis travelled to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the UK in an effort to bolster his international credentials.
While the trip was billed as a trade mission as part of his job as Florida governor, it was obvious Mr DeSantis, a former Lieutenant in the US Navy, where he spent time at Joint Task Force Guantanamo and deployed to Iraq, was trying to show voters he had what it took to be America’s leader on the International stage.
Like many US politicians before him, Mr DeSantis has made Israel a focal point of his foreign policy. While in Israel in April, he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He has criticised the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, saying it “flooded Iran with money that rejuvenated their economy, and that led to the funding of terrorism all across the Middle East”.
Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador
The former South Carolina Governor turned US Ambassador to the United Nations has a strong foreign policy resume.
Ms Haley was a prominent face of US foreign policy during her texture, taking a hard stance against Russia’s involvement in Syria and lambasting the UN for its treatment of Israel.
She has also been a vocal critic of China. In June, Ms Haley gave a speech, in which she criticised both Mr Biden's and Mr Trump’s handling of the rival power.
She called China “the biggest threat we’ve had since Pearl Harbour” on CNBC.
Asa Hutchinson, former Arkansas governor
Mr Hutchinson is an outlier in the current Republican field. He’s less about America First and more about returning America to its role as a global leader. He believes the US should welcome refugees and that the Republican party is in a fight for its “soul.”
The former two-term governor of Arkansas believes China is the most pressing threat facing the US. “If America is to be the best, then we cannot yield to China in terms of global leadership,” Mr Hutchinson said in a speech announcing his candidacy.
Mike Pence, former US vice president
As vice president under Mr Trump, Mike Pence defended the former president's decision to assassinate Qasem Soleimani, a major figure in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Since leaving office, Mr Pence has broken with his former boss by saying no one should praise North Korean leader Kim Jong-un or Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mr Pence has also touted his support for Ukraine, which he visited earlier this summer. The former vice president has tried to make the claim that stopping Russia's advancement would also prevent the need for American servicemembers to be involved in the fighting.
Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur
The conservative entrepreneur, who made a name for himself bashing liberal “woke” culture has taken a strong America First stance throughout his campaign, which influences his foreign policy agenda.
Mr Ramaswamy has said that if elected he would end the war in Ukraine “that will advance American interests”. As part of his plan, Nato would commit to not allowing Ukraine to join the organisation.
He believes “The Russia-China military alliance is the top threat that we face today.”
He has especially divisive views on Taiwan.
“We will defend Taiwan until we have semi-conductor independence in this country, which is where I will lead by the end of my first term in office after which point our commitments by definition will and should change,” he said.
Tim Scott, US Senator
Much of Tim Scott's tenure in the US Senate comprises of domestic affairs before joining the Foreign Relations Committee this year.
Like fellow Republicans, Mr Scott has talked up China as the biggest rival to the US. But he did not provide an answer to NBC News when asked how he would respond if China attacked Taiwan.
In 2017, Mr Scott was among 22 Republican senators who signed a letter urging Mr Trump to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords.
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.5-litre supercharged V6
Power: 416hp at 7,000rpm
Torque: 410Nm at 3,500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Fuel consumption: 10.2 l/100km
Price: Dh375,000
On sale: now
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 390bhp
Torque: 400Nm
Price: Dh340,000 ($92,579
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
APPLE IPAD MINI (A17 PRO)
Display: 21cm Liquid Retina Display, 2266 x 1488, 326ppi, 500 nits
Chip: Apple A17 Pro, 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
Storage: 128/256/512GB
Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
Front camera: 12MP ultra-wide, f/2.4, Smart HDR 4, full-HD @ 25/30/60fps
Biometrics: Touch ID, Face ID
Colours: Blue, purple, space grey, starlight
In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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