EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : The Biden Pragmatism

Source: Indian Express

Prelims: Current events of international importance, west Asia, Isreal-Palestinian conflict, Ukraine-Russia conflict, NATO, AUKUS, Mediterranean sea mapping etc

Mains GS Paper II: Bilateral, regional and global grouping and agreements involving India or affecting India’s interests.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

The Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a rallying effect in Europe.
- Two traditionally neutral nations, Finland and Sweden, joined NATO and Europe doubled down to back Ukraine.

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict:

It dates back to the end of the nineteenth century, and is one of the world’s most enduring conflicts, with the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
The Israel and Palestine conflict is complex: It’s rooted in national, political, territorial, cultural and religious factors
The core issue is not just about the land; it is about having the right to self-determination

Abraham Accords:

They are a series of agreements signed in 2020 between Israel and several Arab states, marking a historic shift in diplomatic relations in the Middle East.
The Accords were name Abraham Accords’ in reference to the supposed common ancestor of the Jews and the Arabs, the biblical Abraham, and as an expression of brotherhood.
The primary countries involved in the Abraham Accords include:
- Israel: As a key party to the Accords, Israel agreed to normalize diplomatic relations with the participating Arab nations, marking a significant departure from the historically hostile relationships it had with many Arab states
- United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE was the first Arab country to formally announce its normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
- It includes the establishment of full diplomatic relations, as well as economic, technological, and cultural exchanges
- Bahrain: Bahrain followed the UAE’s lead by signing a similar agreement with Israel. The Bahrain-Israel Peace Agreement also encompasses diplomatic relations and cooperation in various sectors.
- Sudan: Sudan joined the Abraham Accords by agreeing to normalize relations with Israel.
- It led to the removal of Sudan from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
- Morocco: Joined the Accords with a commitment to normalize relations with Israel.
This agreement included the United States’ recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco’s engagement with Israel.

US’s gains in Asia:

Encouraging Japan to ramp up its defense expenditure to counter China
Promoting normalization of ties between Tokyo and Seoul
Renewing defense cooperation with the Philippines
Signing a strategic partnership agreement with Communist Vietnam
Unveiling the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the UK
Strengthening the Quad
Enhancing bilateral ties with India.
Expanded its military support for Taiwan and is raising the costs of a potential Chinese invasion.

What does US foreign policy establish?

The US should focus on countering China rather than wasting its energies in Ukraine.
It insists that Europeans should take greater responsibility to counter the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Strong bipartisan political consensus in favor of defending Israel
- Some question the US’s uncritical support for Israel.
The prospect that Donald Trump might win the presidency has generated possibilities for a return to isolation.

What US’s strategic resilience cannot be underestimated?

Moderate the extreme domestic arguments and sustain the pursuit of essential US interests worldwide.
US decline tends to be overstated:The US share of the global GDP continues to be around 24 percent.
- The Western share of the GDP has declined, a substantive drop in Europe’s share.
The current slowdown in the Chinese economy suggests it will be a long while, if at all, before China overtakes Washington in aggregate GDP.
On the military front: The US continues to spend more on defense than the next 10 countries combined, including China and India.
None of the other powers can project military power in the manner the US does.
- The crisis in the Middle East: The US deployed two aircraft carriers in the eastern Mediterranean
On the diplomatic front: The US has been able to insert itself directly and at the highest level in the Gaza war.
- While China and Russia have offered the usual bromides
The US has more leverage than the other major powers with both the Arabs and Israel.
The structure of the great power conflict favors the USA.
- Although Russia and China have gotten closer than before
- Both are eager to work out separate deals with the US.
For Russia and China, it is a question of terms and not a matter of ideological principle.
The US has domestic problems, and China and Russia have their own.
- The strong-man rule in Moscow and Beijing may mask those difficulties, but can’t hide them.

Way Forward

The US can always take a detached view of the balance of power in Europe and Asia.
- With minor tweaks in its policy, it can exploit the many contradictions among the major powers of Eurasia.
The greatest US advantage is its system of alliances that vastly outgun the coalitions that Russia and China have sought to construct.
- The Biden administration has made a conscious decision to look beyond its traditional alliances.
By strengthening those who have a stake in defending themselves against China, the US has enhanced the Asian deterrent capabilities against China.
The US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan: The range of countries supporting Washington includes “those with diverse political systems”.
Sullivan’s formulation is not a “deviation” from the ideology of democracy promotion.
The question of democratic values remains central to the US foreign policy discourse
- US’s conduct of international relations has been pragmatic when it comes to its core interests.