Lindsey Graham points to foreign policy in 2016 launch

US Senator Lindsey Graham announced on Monday he intends to run for President in 2016

Senator Lindsey Graham underlined his foreign policy experience as he launched his 2016 White House campaign.

Mr Graham officially announced his presidential run from his hometown of Central, South Carolina.

He told supporters: "I have more experience with our national security than any other candidate in this race. That includes you, Hillary."

Mr Graham also promised "limited and effective government" and strong national defence.

The socially conservative candidate is the ninth Republican and fourth US senator to join the race for the presidential nomination.

Mr Graham joined Congress in 1994, winning re-election twice.

He chairs several Senate subcommittees related to security and has travelled extensively, giving him a strong foreign policy brief.

An active-duty Air Force lawyer for six years, the South Carolina senator is a 30-year veteran of the Air Force Reserve.

Mr Graham is a supporter of gun rights and conservative values

In his remarks on Monday, Mr Graham said the US would "never achieve peaceful coexistence with radical Islam".

"I want as president to defeat the enemies that are trying to kill us. Not just penalise them, or contain them, but defeat them," he said.

Mr Graham has spoken out against President Barack Obama's foreign policy, calling for US ground troops in the fight against Islamic State.

He said he would protect US government benefit programmes like Medicare and Social Security, having known what it is like to need them himself.

In a video that preceded his speech, Mr Graham is described as the first in his family to go to college and a "battle-tested leader who has fought to protect the American dream".