Arab world awaits US elections again

The Arab world is awaiting, as usual, the results of the US election, which will take place in three weeks, in the hope that it will make a difference in the policies carried out by the strongest, richest and most capable country. of the world. concerning its many, varied and profound issues and problems.

As usual, the outcome of these elections, whether in favor of a second term for Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, or in favor of Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, will unfortunately not make a big difference. difference, in that it won’t make much of a difference to US foreign policy in practice. And that the difference will only be in the tone, or in the diplomatic behavior, from a crude and direct policy to a flexible and roundabout policy.

What is perhaps meant to be perceived here is that the foreign policy of the United States of America is characterized by continuity, since it is the institutions, lobbies and decision-making centers that make this policy, with a lesser role for the president, and this applies to issues of the Middle East, in particular issues of Palestine, Syria and the Iranian presence in the region. The interests of the United States as a country are represented, while the president (and his party) has more leeway to formulate national policies and decisions, i.e. where the direct interests of the American voters, who give priority to internal affairs and their living conditions (taxes, health, education, work, infrastructure) are represented.

So we can notice that Trump’s policies did not differ much from those of his predecessor Obama, especially in Palestinian and Syrian affairs, I mean in practice, while Barack Obama was more gentle and understanding, but only in theory. . In fact, the policies pursued by President Obama have disappointed many regimes and political movements, especially with regard to the silence on the Syrian regime and indifference to the Syrian tragedy, the pressure on Israel regarding the rights of the Palestinians and confrontation with Iranian influence. in the Arab region. However, this disappointment and the resulting trauma depend on a brief and partial reading of American politics, as if it were an ordinary country and not a superpower, or as if it was operating according to the desires and interests of this or that party, or as if its motive is based on certain political, moral or ideological constants.

The story is illustrated by the fact that many of us think of politics with our emotions, desires, interests and mindsets, which means that we don’t think about it from the perspective of other countries. , that is, their vision of themselves and their interests. , and this is true of the policy pursued by the Obama administration, whether we like it or not.

On the other hand, they believe that the Arab countries have enough to put pressure on the United States to push them to adopt policies compatible with Arab interests, on this or that issue, when it is not. not the case, because the United States is the one who has the cards of pressure and power, especially since its experience confirms that whatever it does, the countries concerned cannot and will not be able to deviate from their will and their dependence on them, especially in the economic, technological and security fields, which explains the difficulty of political separation from them.

In addition to this and that, some people think that American policy is determined on the basis of the same standards that prevail in the Arab world, where the president is the one who decides everything, in terms of policies and options.

There is no doubt that the Obama administration’s Middle East policy is very disappointing, as it handed Iraq over to Iran, after its withdrawal, and it appeared to help it maximize its influence, from Yemen to Lebanon, via Iraq and Syria; It is on the one hand. On the other hand, this administration refrained from taking measures to stop the deterioration of the situation in Syria, rather it allowed the regime to continue killing and destroying it, then forcing it on Russia. In addition to these two, he distanced himself from any pressure on Israel that would lead to fair rights for Palestinians, and even swallowed his entire speech on a settlement freeze.

But what needs to be understood here, too, is that the United States behaves this way based on its understanding of its interests as a superpower that no longer cares about who directly controls this region (nor the Russia, Turkey, Israel, nor Iran), as long as this preserves its position and preserves its interests, It does not affect its security, especially with the shift of its interests to Southeast Asia, and its growing dependence on its oil and gas reserves.

Perhaps this explains the fact that the US administration during the Trump era watched over everyone’s dilemma, namely Russia, Iran and Turkey, and worked to exhaust them, exhaust them and hit them together, and that’s not a turning back. , but playing a pun, not dealing with conflict or crisis, but rather as an investment in them. With her awareness of her ability to control and the possession of the force cards, it is she who decides when and when

Nevertheless, it is worth noting two important and dangerous paths, the first of which is the devastation of the Arab East and the fracture of its societies, especially Iraq and Syria. The second is to ensure the security and stability of Israel for decades to come, and the United States is not innocent of either this or that, with our governments being responsible for everything that happens to us and those who surround.

Therefore, anyone who expects something new, from a practical standpoint, will not find it, no matter who resides in the American White House, for the next four years, whether it be Trump or Biden.

Quoting “the Arabs”