AOC calls for ‘decolonization’ and ‘indigenous rights’ to be basis of US foreign policy

“Less policy informed by frameworks of imperialism, colonialism, exploitation, & ‘security state,'” the freshman congresswoman responded. “More policy informed by decolonization, international labor rights, increased focus on economic opportunity for the poor, expanded indigenous rights and protections, and VERY important strong international agreements on climate action.”

Ocasio-Cortez, 30, went on to say the United States should use trade agreements as “a level to advance global carbon emissions drawdowns.” “TRADE POLICY IS CLIMATE POLICY,” she said. “It’s one of the strongest potential levers for global cooperation on climate change. If there are no climate benchmarks in your trade policy, then your trade policy is climate denial. That’s why I voted against the USMCA, aka NAFTA 2.0.”

(Screenshot/Instagram)

This is not the first time the congresswoman has blasted colonialism. In May, Ocasio-Cortez said cauliflower is the “colonial approach” to vegetables. “But when you really think about it — when someone says that it’s ‘too hard’ to do a green space that grows yucca instead of, I don’t know, cauliflower or something — what you’re doing is that you’re taking a colonial approach to environmentalism, and that is why a lot of communities of color get resistant to certain environmentalist movements because they come with the colonial lens on them,” she said in an Instagram video.

Ocasio-Cortez has blasted America’s involvement in foreign wars claiming that war is also about “class conflict.” “War is a class conflict, too. The rich and powerful who open war escape the consequences of their decisions,” she said last month. “It’s not their children sent into the jaws of violence. It is often the vulnerable, the poor, & working people -who had little to no say in conflict – who pay the price.”