US aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan rests on a fragile consensus

--

It is a victory for Joe Biden. But the battle over Ukraine reveals a deep divide over foreign policy in US politics.

The large section of the Republicans who voted against the assistance to Ukraine could demand the Speaker’s resignation.

Bipartisan support for a military assistance package worth $94 billion was approved in Washington last week. The assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan marks a major political victory for US President Joe Biden — he called Wednesday a “good day for world peace” as he signed the Bill into law. For months, Biden struggled to get the Republicans, who have a thin majority in the House of Representatives, to support military aid to Ukraine amid Kyiv’s growing desperation to stabilize the front against Russia. The Republicans had no issue with helping Israel and Taiwan, but a large section of them was dead set against greater support for Ukraine. Sections of the extreme right backed by Trump would not allow the Speaker of the House to bring the issue to vote. By persuading the Speaker, Mike Johnson, to recognize the gravity of the situation in Ukraine, the White House overcame that obstacle. Former President Donald Trump, distracted by his troubles in court, did not challenge the Administration on this issue and made it easy for Biden. But the divide within the Republican Party over Ukraine and Russian questions will continue.

The large section of the Republicans who voted against the assistance to Ukraine could demand the Speaker’s resignation. The battle over Ukraine reflects a deep divide over foreign policy issues in America. The US students protesting against US policy on Israel and the rapidly diminished popular empathy for Israel in its war against Gaza is another element of the breakdown. But the political class has closed ranks around the question of China and there is strong support for containing Beijing’s designs in the Indo-Pacific. This is reflected not only in the aid package for Taiwan but also in the formal decision to ban the Chinese social media app, TikTok — the app’s immense popularity among young voters prevented the move so far. However, TikTok is all set to go to court to challenge the decision.

The Indian Express

You have exhausted your
monthly limit of free stories.

Read more stories for free
with an Express account.

The Indian Express

Invest in Democracy. Invest in an Indian Express subscription.

The Indian Express

This premium article is free for now.

Register to read more free stories and access offers from partners.

The Indian Express

Invest in Democracy. Invest in an Indian Express subscription.

The Indian Express

This content is exclusive for our subscribers.

Subscribe now to get unlimited access to The Indian Express exclusive and premium stories.

All this reveals the fragmented authority in the US — by constitutional design to limit the power of any branch of the state — and the difficulties it presents in building policy consensus on any issue. The political leadership has to constantly work hard to forge that consensus. It is also a useful reminder for the Indian elite, whose stakes in the engagement with the US have become very large, to pay attention to the complexity of US domestic politics and avoid jumping to hasty conclusions on the basis of the daily wrangling that goes on in Washington.

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

First uploaded on: 29-04-2024 at 08:15 IST

The article is in Norwegian

Tags: aid Ukraine Israel Taiwan rests fragile consensus

-

PREV Biden calls Trump ‘unhinged’ and says ‘something snapped’ in former president after he lost 2020 election
NEXT Hell is Real is here, follow live
-

-