An outspoken progressive Democrat is wary of President Biden’s approach to the Middle East, arguing that it’s like a defeat of the quest to win a Nobel Peace Prize.
Why it matters: A number of members of Biden’s own party do not like his Middle East strategy, as his government indicates that the region was no longer the priority for President Obama and his predecessors.
- “Obama has campaigned for greatness,” California Democratic Representative Ro Khanna told Axios. “At least he tried.”
- Khanna, 44, supported Senator Bernie Sanders as president and worked with Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) To pursue a non-interventionist foreign policy.
Khanna criticized Biden because he did not impose sanctions on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after intelligence showed he was responsible for the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
- In a five-point plan shared exclusively with Axios, he proposes that the government withdraw all remaining US troops in Iraq. He is in favor of striking a multilateral agreement with regional partners to prevent ISIS from regaining territory.
- He also joined the Democrats in criticizing the administration for a recent air strike on facilities in Syria related to militia groups backed by Iran.
- Khanna suggests announcing additional resources for security and stability, including assistance and development.
- And Khanna’s plan effectively calls for other local players to increase their presence in the region as the United States withdraws.
But, but, but: Other key role players in the region often have very different views on how to maintain stability.
- When the US withdrew from Syria under Donald Trump, it was Russia and Turkey – two countries with which the US has difficult relations – that filled the gap.
Flash back: Obama withdrew US military forces from Iraq by 2011, after which sectarian tensions and a weak Iraqi state created a ripe environment for the formation of ISIS.
- This necessitated another US-led intervention in the region in 2014 – a move that Khanna supported.
- Biden said in a letter to congressional leaders on Saturday that his Syria strike last week was in line with U.S. law of self-defense.
- The White House declined to comment on Khanna’s proposals.
The Biden administration has made this clear in recent moves, it intends to refocus on what he sees as more pressing issues.
- During his first speech on foreign policy, Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the relationship with the United States with China the ‘greatest geopolitical test of the 21st century’.
- While acknowledging that other countries present their own challenges, Blinken noted China’s ability to destabilize the international system.
- Biden only called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu almost a month after his term.
The conclusion: As Axios’ Barack Ravid from Tel Aviv reports, US presidents have been in office for decades, hoping to reach a historic peace deal.
- Biden does not consider this feasible under the current circumstances.