(06-01) 09:31 PDT WASHINGTON, (AP) -- Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said Monday the Obama administration's push for new social spending could hurt defense programs and endanger America's national security.
"Backing away from missile defense and depleting the defense budget to fund new social programs, particularly in the face of global turmoil, would put America and Americans at risk," he said.
Romney, speaking to the conservative Heritage Foundation, called Obama's proposal to cut missile defense programs a "grave miscalculation" in light of North Korea's provocations, Iran's near-nuclear status and Pakistan's instability.
Romney said Obama plans to shrink the defense budget every year over the next decade, from 3.8 percent of the economy down to 3 percent. He said the country should be spending more than 4 percent of the economy on defense.
"Arrogant, delusional tyrants can't be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows," he said. "Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent."
Romney also called on Congress to fully fund and deploy a multilayered missile defense shield that he said was vital for the nation's security.
"I know the liberals have opposed missile defense ever since Ronald Reagan came up with it," he said. "But this is too big an issue for ideology or politics to prevail over national security."
Romney also scolded Obama for apologizing to America's critics in the global arena.
"I take issue with President Obama's recent tour of apology," Romney said. "It's not because America hasn't made mistakes — we have - but because America's mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world."
The former Massachusetts governor is seen as a likely contender for the GOP's presidential nomination.
The speech was seen as a bid to enhance his foreign policy credentials among conservative Republicans. Romney said liberals have long complained about too much defense spending.