Here's where Indiana Sen. Todd Young stands on Biden aid request for Israel and Ukraine

Splitting from his fellow Republican U.S. senator from Indiana, Todd Young spoke favorably Monday about President Joe Biden's request for $106 billion in emergency aid for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan and the southern border ― a spending package that is likely to draw a divisive vote in Congress.

Young supports the aid because conflicts in each of the regions are interconnected and because of the United States' global reputation, he explained at a panel hosted by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition in Indianapolis Monday.

"All these pieces are linked in very interesting ways, and we are being watched," Young said before an audience at the Hyatt Regency hotel.

Biden submitted the request to Congress on Oct. 20 as lawmakers work to fund the government before the shutdown deadline of Nov. 17.

Right-wing members of the Republican caucus have expressed opposition to coupling aid for Israel with aid for Ukraine. Israel has been at war with Hamas since the Palestinian militant group launched a coordinated attack Oct. 7; Ukraine has been at war since Russia invaded February 2022.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, also of Indiana, was among nine in that chamber to pen a letter to their leadership saying the conflicts are different and that "it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line." They noted 22 House Republicans wrote to speaker candidates making the same request.

Biden met with new House Speaker Mike Johnson last week to discuss the supplemental spending request. Johnson said afterward that Congress would not "abandon" Ukraine but that House Republicans would first bring forward a bill to send billions in aid to Israel.

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Young, however, said that the conflicts are connected in terms of the United States' diplomatic credibility and leverage.

The world is watching, he said, to see if the U.S. abides by the Budapest Memorandum, a treaty signed in the 1990s promising security guarantees in exchange for the Ukrainian government giving up their nuclear weapons.

"The world has not forgotten that we made that agreement," he said. "They’re looking at us for our credibility."

In Taiwan and Japan, which Young recently visited, he said leaders are watching the United States' posture in Ukraine as an indicator of whether the United States would support Taiwan.

"If we're not going to support the Taiwanese, then the Japanese and the South Koreans might be more accommodationist toward the Chinese Communist Party," he said.

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And on the matter of Israel: The U.S. has said for generations that Israel is a close friend and ally, so we need to help, he said.

He said American leaders have the opportunity now to help Israel and Ukraine in a way that doesn't involve boots on the ground.

"If we don’t get involved early, it’s far more likely that later on you’ll get pulled into something that will involve a more robust commitment ― far more expensive in terms of lives and treasure," Young said.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Sen. Todd Young defends Biden aid request for Israel, Ukraine