Jessie Balmert

jbalmert@enquirer.com

COLUMBUS - Gov. John Kasich took some subtle digs at GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump Wednesday, calling any plan to retreat from the world “crazy” and advocating for a controversial trade deal in Asia.

Kasich, who ran unsuccessfully for the GOP presidential bid, defended globalism and trade deals in an election year in which both have become dirty words.

“We don’t have a right as a nation to retreat from the world. What are we, crazy?” Kasich asked incredulously.

Trump has described the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, formed in 1949 to defend against the Soviet Union, as “obsolete” and “costing us a fortune.” But Kasich defended the partnership Wednesday at a forum for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.

“In this campaign, we hear about the fact that these institutions may be outdated. Let me tell you something: We run down NATO, we’re making a horrible mistake,” Kasich said.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the event’s main speaker, similarly warned about disengaging: “I think is just completely unrealistic and it doesn’t reflect the speed at which things are happening.”

The governor also warned against anyone – ahem, Trump – “that would wink and nod” at Russian President Vladimir Putin about the future of the Ukraine.

“Just think if Putin somehow gets the opportunity to move into Ukraine, how many people are going to be enslaved and for how many decades will they live like that?” he asked.

Kasich also defended his trip to visit with President Barack Obama in Washington D.C. to promote the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Imagine if fledgling countries in Asia could find support from western countries like the United States instead of China, he said. Trump has vowed to kill the trade deal. Democratic presidential candidate Hilary Clinton had called the pact a "gold standard" in trade agreements. Now, she opposes it.

Kasich has refused to endorse Trump despite pledging to support the Republican presidential nominee. Recently, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz endorsed Trump despite opposing the GOP pick for months and advising Republicans to vote their conscience at their national convention in Cleveland.