By: Muhammad Zain Ul Abideen
President Trump will give President-Elect Joe Biden a tough ground on America’s foreign relations with many countries. But it may not take considerable for Biden to redefine the immediate foreign challenges.
US-China relations are significantly worst since both nations normalized the diplomatic interaction four decades back. Iran is accumulating enriched nuclear reactors again; the US major anti-proliferation treaty with Russia about to run out and North Korea is flourishing its atomic weapons. In addition to refugee issue, climate challenge and emerging deprivation in the poverty-stricken places of the world all turned up by the corona virus pandemic.
President-Elect is inheriting the number of challenges and animosities toward the US in countries belligerent to Trump’s “America First” slogan, his unpredictable and egoistic leadership style and opposition to liberal internationalism. Biden also can face troubles in engaging with the countries that had wished for Trump’s re-election like his like-minded Saudi Arabia and Israel in the context of Iran.
Here are the most critical and urgent foreign policy areas that Biden-Kamala administration will face:
Dramatic policy shift on Saudi Arabia, Israel and Iran?
Joe Biden has given an impression to alter what he called the “Dangerous Failure” of Trump’s Iran posture rejected the 2015 nuclear pact (JCPOA, P5+1) with additional sanctions that have caused severe economic crisis in Islamic republic and left the US isolated especially among the European allies. President-elect has offered to rejoin the JCPOA agreement which further narrows Iran’s nuclear potentials If Iran commits its terms and conditions to move forward. He also has promised to cancel Trump administration “Travel Ban Policy” that affecting many Muslim countries. Iranian Supreme Leader has said that the US is untrustworthy regardless who is in the president house. Simultaneously, “Iran is desperate for the Nuclear-deal”, said Cliff Kupchan, chairman of the Eurasia Group. He said, Mr. Biden will face immense problems in dialogue with Tehran intended at further restrictions on its nuclear sites. “The substance will be hard. We have seen this picture and it’s not simple” he added.
Biden policy to Iran could detach Israeli PM, who advantaged Trump’s aggressive policy to help build up Israel’s ties with Gulf countries. Managing the relations with Saudi Kingdom will also be a tough task which perceived Iran a potential threat. Kupchan said, “There is very hard square to circle here”. “Israel can expect an uncomfortable period of adjustment, said an Israeli columnist, Yossi Verter.
United States and China Relations Challenge
In the eyes of many political experts, nothing is more important than altering the falling course of ties with the economic superpower and geopolitical foe China; many called it a New Cold War. Trade war, tech-war, dispute over the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Taiwan Crisis have changed the dynamics of ties during Trump’s tenure and his racist remarks, called corona-virus, a Chinese virus, further deteriorated the relations between existing power and the emerging power. China is the back-bone and radioactive core of US foreign policy issue, said Orville Schell, Director of the Asian Society Centre US-China relations.
Fixing relations with European countries and Brexit
At the same time, Trump’s belittled with European allies and firmly boosted the Britain’s exit from European Union, the President-Elect has conveyed opposite stance, the same as ex-president Obama preferred close ties with European Union and he was also against the Brexit. Mr.Biden dominance in white house could be embarrassing for Boris Johnson of Britain who had welcomed Mr. Trump and achieving on Trade agreement with US before fully quit of Britain from EU. The new President of US may not in positing to start such arrangements. “We had differences, but there was not absolutely distrust between biggest traditional allies of the world, said G.H Brundtland, the former PM of Norway. Repairing the relations with historical European allies and reverse the Brexit will be a daunting challenge for Biden-Kamala administration.
North Korea and Russia
Donald J. Trump has explained his friendship and multiple engagements with autocrat of North Korea, as a triumph that prevent full-fledge war with nuclear weapon state. Trump’s policy of appeasement had criticized, said his policy only failed but also gave time to further strengthen. Elect-President would likely to stand with South Korea and push for denuclearization but he has not mentioned how to counter the North Korea’s aggressive attitude. Joe Biden has long declared that he would take a harsh stance with Russian Federation than Trump. Biden as vice president in 2014 pushed sanctions against Russia over its occupation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Under Biden-Kamala administration, relations with Putin regime would likely tense but arms reduction is the one field where both leaders have share common view.
International Commitments and Joe Biden
Joe Biden has promised to rejoin the Paris agreement on climate accord in order to reduce the carbon emissions and address the climate challenge in true manner, which US officially left last week. He has also added that would restore the membership of US in WHO which Trump administration suddenly rejected and called it as a servant of China.
In general, Biden is expected to change many of the trump’s administration isolationist and anti-immigrants policies which are broadly seen as disgraceful for US standing in the world affairs. He would stop the construction of biggest wall with Mexican border, provide a legal way for people living in US unlawfully and develop opportunities for immigrants. Nevertheless, many of Trump’s administration approaches had potential support in US and it will be on the Biden’s political maturity that how he swiftly can change them. Jean-Marie, a French Diplomat said, “There is relief at a return to bit of normalcy but simultaneously, history cannot be removed easily”. Trumpism will not easily disappear from the DNA of US liberal-democracy. The soft power that United States has developed in the past three decades has mainly vanished.
The writer is a Social Activist. He can be reached at [email protected]