Houston Daily

U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security Committees, appeared on ABC's "This Week" with Martha Raddatz to discuss current international security issues and his future plans.

During the interview, McCaul addressed Russia's recent violation of Polish airspace. He stated, "I think Putin is testing the resolve of NATO. He wants to see how NATO reacts, how Poland reacts. The good news is Poland had a great response. They shot [several of Russia's drones] down. But it shows you how aggressive Putin is getting in the region. Not only the drones, but these war game exercises with Belarus right on the NATO border, the Baltic States. The nuclear bombers that flew to Poland, close to their airspace, and then these strikes up in the Arctic. He's really putting the pressure on right now."

McCaul also discussed NATO's decision to move air defenses to its eastern flank in response to Russian actions: "I think it's a response to Putin's aggression. Putin is the one responsible for this. And so, it's called Eastern Sentry. That means the prepositioning of assets, relocation of military assets to the eastern flank of NATO right on the border. We've never seen anything like this in recent times. And so, what I'm concerned about is that the escalation here and the temperature rising, we got to be very careful not to be on the precipice of a World War III.

"I think [Putin will] continue to be provocative and saber-rattle. ... What we need to do is negotiate out of strength. ... You know, the more Putin irritates the president, I think the better we are in terms of defending NATO and Ukraine."

On Israel's strike in Qatar, McCaul said: "As the president said, this does not serve the interest of the United States or Israel well long term. And what do I mean by that? I think normalization is where we want to be at the end of the day. The more we inflame the Arab world, the less likely that normalization process. What do I mean by that? I mean, peace with Israel, Abraham Accords."

Reflecting on his visit to Ground Zero for 9/11 commemorations and discussing his career trajectory and future plans in public service, McCaul shared: "I was up there in New York [this weekend] for that powerful ceremony. [The 9/11 attack] changed my life and many others. I became a counterterrorism federal prosecutor within the Justice Department. I entered Congress. I chaired the Homeland Security Committee, [where] I saw the rise of ISIS and the caliphate. As chairman of Foreign Affairs, I saw Afghanistan fall and Putin invade Ukraine and the Middle East on fire, and then the threat from Chairman Xi and China in the Indo-Pacific.

"It's been an honor to serve for over two decades in Congress. I'm looking now for a new challenge. I'm going to serve remainder of my term but I'm looking for a new challenge in same space — that would be national security and foreign policy but just in a different realm... But I want continue serve people this country national security foreign policy do what I've done last two decades: make America stronger world safer."

McCaul has represented Texas' 10th Congressional District since 2005 after winning multiple general elections against various opponents over recent years.