“America’s prestige, influence, and leadership are on the line.”

A strong national security depends on trade, and the United States needs TPA to achieve it. That’s the message from a group of high-profile former military leaders. Seventeen retired generals, admirals, and secretaries of defense are offering their “strongest possible support” for trade promotion authority, citing the strategic imperative of pending trade agreements in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. In a letter to congressional leaders, the bold names—including Petraeus, Panetta, Powell, Rumsfeld, and Gates—stress the “deeper regional economic integration, increased political cooperation, and ultimately greater stability” these trade agreements would provide. In part, they write:

“The stakes are clear. There are tremendous strategic benefits to TPP and TTIP, and there would be harmful strategic consequences if we fail to secure these agreements. In both Asia-Pacific and the Atlantic, our allies and partners would question our commitments, doubt our resolve, and inevitably look to other partners. America’s prestige, influence, and leadership are on the line. With TPP originating in the Bush administration, these agreements are fundamentally bipartisan in nature and squarely in our national security interest. It is vitally important that we seize the new strategic opportunities these agreements offer our nation.”

As we noted earlier, trade has long been a critical part of American foreign policy. And these leaders are making it clear that we need trade today as much as ever. You can read their entire letter below and find it here.

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Dear Mr. Speaker, Mr. Leader, Madam Pelosi, and Senator Reid:

We write to express our strongest possible support for the enactment of Trade Promotion Authority legislation, which is critical to the successful conclusion of two vital trade agreements: the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).

While the economic benefits of both these agreements would be substantial, as former Secretaries of Defense and military leaders we believe there is an equally compelling strategic rationale for TPP and TTIP.

First and foremost, the conclusion of these agreements would be a powerful symbol of continued U.S. leadership and engagement globally. They would reinforce relationships with important allies and partners in critical regions of the world. By binding us closer together with Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Australia, among others, TPP would strengthen existing and emerging security relationships in the Asia-Pacific, and reassure the region of America’s long-term staying power. In Europe, TTIP would reinvigorate the transatlantic partnership and send an equally strong signal about the commitment of the United States to our European allies.

The successful conclusion of TPP and TTIP would also draw in other nations and encourage them to undertake political and economic reforms. The result will be deeper regional economic integration, increased political cooperation, and ultimately greater stability in the two regions of the world that will have the greatest long-term impact on U.S. prosperity and security.

Indeed, TPP in particular will shape an economic dynamic over the next several decades that will link the United States with one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic regions. If, however, we fail to move forward with TPP, Asian economies will almost certainly develop along a China- centric model. In fact, China is already pursuing an alternative regional free trade initiative. TPP, combined with T-TIP, would allow the United States and our closest allies to help shape the rules and standards for global trade.

The stakes are clear. There are tremendous strategic benefits to TPP and TTIP, and there would be harmful strategic consequences if we fail to secure these agreements. In both Asia-Pacific and the Atlantic, our allies and partners would question our commitments, doubt our resolve, and inevitably look to other partners. America’s prestige, influence, and leadership are on the line. With TPP originating in the Bush administration, these agreements are fundamentally bipartisan in nature and squarely in our national security interest. It is vitally important that we seize the new strategic opportunities these agreements offer our nation.

Signed,

Harold Brown, Former Secretary of Defense

William S. Cohen, Former Secretary of Defense

Robert M. Gates, Former Secretary of Defense

Chuck Hagel, Former Secretary of Defense

Leon E. Panetta, Former Secretary of Defense

William J. Perry, Former Secretary of Defense

Donald H. Rumsfeld, Former Secretary of Defense

Admiral Dennis C. Blair, USN (Ret.)

General James E. Cartwright, USMC (Ret.)

Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., USN (Ret.)

General James Mattis, USMC (Ret.)

General David H. Petraeus, USA (Ret.)

General Colin Powell, USA (Ret.)

Admiral Gary Roughead, USN (Ret.)

General Hugh Shelton, USA (Ret.)

Admiral James Stavridis, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Robert F. Willard, USN (Ret.)