An avowed progressive democrat is wary of President Biden’s approach to the Middle East, arguing that it is like “admitting defeat of the aspiration” to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Why does it matter: Several members of Biden’s own party do not like his strategy for the Middle East, as his government signals that the region is no longer the priority it was for President Obama and his predecessors.
- “Obama fought for greatness,” Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna told Axios. “He at least tried.”
- Khanna, 44, supported Senator Bernie Sanders for president and worked with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) To implement a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Khanna criticized Biden for not imposing sanctions on Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, after intelligence showed that he was responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
- In a five-point plan shared exclusively with Axios, he suggests that the government withdraw all remaining American forces in Iraq. He is in favor of a multilateral agreement with regional partners to prevent ISIS from taking over the territory.
- He also joined the Democrats in criticizing the government for a recent air strike against facilities in Syria linked to Iranian-backed militia groups.
- Khanna proposes to announce additional resources for security and stability, including aid and development.
- And Khanna’s plan effectively calls on other regional players to increase their presence in the region as the United States withdraws.
But, but, but: Other important players in the region tend to have very different views on how to maintain stability.
- When the United States withdrew from Syria under Donald Trump, it was Russia and Turkey – two countries with which the United States has difficult relations – that filled the void.
Flashback: Obama withdrew US military forces from Iraq in 2011, after which sectarian tensions and a weak Iraqi state created an enabling environment for the formation of ISIS.
- This required another American-led intervention in the region in 2014 – a movement supported by Khanna.
- Biden told congressional leaders in a letter on Saturday that his attack on Syria last week was consistent with the U.S. right to self-defense.
- The White House declined to comment on Khanna’s suggestions.
The Biden administration made it clear in recent movements, he intends to refocus on what he sees as more pressing issues.
- During his first foreign policy speech, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the United States’ relationship with China “the greatest geopolitical test of the 21st century”.
- While acknowledging that other nations present their own challenges, Blinken noted China’s ability to destabilize the international system.
- Biden did not call Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until almost a month after his term began.
The end result: As reported by Axios, Barak Ravid of Tel Aviv, US presidents have been in office for decades in the hope of reaching a historic peace deal.
- Biden does not see this as achievable in the current circumstances.