A Tale of Two Strategies: Contrasting Biden's Policies on
the Israel-Palestinian Conflict and Russo-Ukrainian War
Nuai Daoh[1] and Thapiporn Suporn[2]
[1] 3rd-year International Affairs Student at Khon Kaen University International College
[2] Assistant Professor in International Relations, Khon Kaen University International College
Introduction
President Joe Biden of the United States has made history by becoming the first president to venture into war zones in both Ukraine and Israel since President Lincoln (The White House, 2023). This unprecedented move underscores the gravity of the challenges facing the U.S. in the complex geopolitical landscape involving Russia and the Middle East. Decades-old alliances and rivalries with countries like Israel and Russia heavily influence the U.S.'s approach to recent conflicts in the region. These relationships, shaped by both ideological considerations and strategic interests, provide crucial context for understanding the U.S. response to the Ukraine war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. By examining President Biden's actions and the potential implications of a shift towards a more pragmatic foreign policy—best explained by liberalism while incorporating elements of self-interest and military expansion similar to realism—this essay seeks to illuminate the intricate dynamics at play and the formidable challenges confronting the U.S. in navigating these conflicts.
From Kiev to Gaza: A Dive into Biden’s Foreign Policy Strategies
To understand the reasons behind U.S. actions toward Russia and Israel, it is important to examine the historical relationships between the United States and these two key countries. Since the Cold War, bipolarity has been characterized by the dominance of two superpowers in global affairs. The United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) stood as major military and ideological adversaries (capitalism/democracy vs. communism/single-party authoritarianism), leading competing alliance systems (Nadkarni, 2020).
Since Israel's establishment in 1948 with its democratic regime amidst authoritarian regimes in the Middle East, numerous U.S. Presidents and Members of Congress have consistently supported Israel's security and fostered close cooperation between the two countries. This strong relationship significantly shapes U.S. policy in the Middle East, aiming to spread its influence through the expansion of democracy (Zanotti, 2022, p. 1). Conversely, the USSR, and now Russia, with its opposing ideologies, has been considered one of the U.S.'s biggest rivals and threats since the Cold War.
Regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2020, the West's united response through sanctions and military support for Ukraine aims to weaken Russia economically and politically. This strategy focuses on prolonging Ukrainian resistance and inflicting economic strain on Russia (Duclos, 2022). On the other hand, the U.S. is not only Israel’s biggest trading partner, enabling about $50 billion in trade annually, but it also significantly contributes to the Israeli economy. Additionally, the U.S. provides Israel with an annual military subsidy of $3.3 billion due to its interest in protecting Israel and maintaining its status as an important presence in the Middle East (Lovnér, 2023, p. 21).
U.S. actions toward Russia and Israel are rooted in these historical relations. Since the Cold War, this dynamic has led to strong support for Israel and rivalry with Russia. The West, including the U.S., aims to weaken Russia while safeguarding Israel’s position in the Middle East.
The outbreak of both the Russo-Ukrainian and Israeli-Palestinian wars occurred during Joe Biden's presidential term, and he has approached these conflicts differently. Regarding Russia and Israel, Putin's invasion of Ukraine was not considered an act of self-defense or a reaction to a specific incident involving Ukrainian forces attacking Russians. Instead, it represented Russia's imperial intentions and desire for regional dominance (Wintour, 2023).
In the current crisis between Israel and Hamas, Biden, in his speech in October 2023, identified Hamas as a terrorist group with substantial support from Russia, which threatens the Western world. Therefore, Israel's attacks on Palestinian territory in Gaza to eliminate the terrorist group are deemed essential and considered self-defense. Furthermore, as the war began, U.S. President Joe Biden resolved to defend Israel without hesitation, making history on October 18 by becoming the first American president to visit Israel during hostilities (Britannica, 2024).
The Biden administration's stance on Ukraine covers U.S. interests, the domestic situation in Ukraine, and approaches to resolving the conflict in Donbas, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine's aspirations to join the community of democracies (Aslund et al., 2021, p. 2). In the case of Israel and Palestine, Biden’s administration seeks to preserve the viability of negotiating a two-state solution. This involves managing tensions, bolstering Israel’s defensive capabilities, and strengthening U.S.-Palestinian ties that frayed during the Trump Administration (Zanotti, 2022, p. 16).
All in all, during Joe Biden's presidency, conflicts erupted, and Biden approached these conflicts differently. He viewed Russia's invasion of Ukraine as an assertion of imperial intentions while supporting Israel's actions against Hamas as self-defense.
Peeling Back the Layers: Liberal Actions Veil Realist Intentions
The most suitable theoretical approach for Biden’s administration, in my opinion, is liberal action with realist intentions underneath. Biden's remarks in October 2023, after tensions between Israelis and Hamas, stated that although Putin and Hamas pose different threats, they have one thing in common: they both wish to destroy a democracy (Biden, 2023). As a great liberal state, the United States sees preserving and expanding democracy as its main duty, a role it has played since the post-Cold War era, exemplified by the Marshall Plan. This belief aligns with the democratic peace theory, which claims that democratic countries are less likely to go to war with each other and tend to negotiate rather than engage in conflict. Therefore, the U.S., holding liberal values, would naturally support Ukraine and Israel, which share these values.
Liberalism values human reason and individual rights as the foundation for establishing security and peace, and it acknowledges the role of international institutions in upholding peace. However, Amnesty International’s Secretary General criticized the U.S. for vetoing a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, arguing that the veto hinders the council's ability to maintain global peace and security (Amnesty International, 2023).
The U.S.'s actions in recent conflicts seem less liberal and reflect a shift toward realist ideals. Realism focuses on self-interest and enhancing power, often through military means. In the context of Russia and Israel, the U.S. has supported Israel, its ally, while imposing sanctions on Russia in various ways. Despite both states' involvement in hostilities related to humanitarian intervention, Biden has convinced citizens that supporting Israel is a strategic move that will benefit American security, keeping its troops safe while creating a safer, more peaceful, and prosperous world for future generations (Biden, 2023). Additionally, the U.S. has not empowered international organizations or the UN as liberalism advocates. This is evident from the U.S. veto, which undermines the UN's ability to maintain peace.
All things considered, Biden's approach combines liberal ideals with realist strategies, prioritizing democracy while also pursuing self-interest. The recent U.S. actions, such as vetoing a UN resolution, indicate a shift towards realism, focusing on power dynamics and self-interest, particularly in supporting Israel and sanctioning Russia.
Conclusion
The U.S. approach to Russia and Israel is deeply rooted in historical relations and contemporary geopolitical dynamics. Since the Cold War era, the U.S. has supported and maintained a close alliance with Israel, driven by shared democratic values and security interests, while viewing Russia as a geopolitical rival and threat. This historical context shapes the U.S. response to recent events, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2020. In this instance, the U.S. led the Western response by imposing sanctions on Russia and providing military support to Ukraine to counter Russian aggression and protect Ukrainian sovereignty.
Conversely, in conflicts involving Israel, such as the ongoing tensions with Hamas, the U.S. has consistently supported Israel's right to self-defense. President Biden's administration has sought to balance the promotion of democratic values with the pursuit of U.S. national interests. However, recent actions, such as the U.S. vetoing a UN resolution concerning Israel and Palestine, indicate a shift in U.S. foreign policy towards a more pragmatic approach that prioritizes its interests over broader ideological considerations of liberalism. The ongoing conflict has caused a severe humanitarian crisis, severely impacting human rights. The United Nations is rightfully prioritizing this issue, and the US response should be more considerate of it.
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