“The contradiction, I think, is in American policy,” said Peter Rough, director of the Center on Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute and a former aide to President George W. Bush. “In Ukraine, he supports Ukraine against the Russian-Iranian alliance, while in Gaza he manages Israel, even limiting it, confronting an Iranian representative.”
On the other side of the spectrum, some foreign policy veterans have said Biden has brought himself trouble by being too pro-Israel.
“I’m not at all sure that Biden has made the right choices on Israel-Gaza, although I recognize that he is in a difficult situation, as is our country,” said Eric Rubin, a longtime American diplomat and former president of ‘American party. Foreign Service Association. “Israel has lost the sympathy of most other countries and their citizens, and I fear we will not see it regained in our lifetime.”
But ultimately, some diplomats said, France and other allies defer to the United States when it comes to such matters. And although he will find them on different pages, Biden enjoys a constructive relationship with his colleagues, unlike his predecessor and possible successor, Donald J. Trump, who berated European allies for their disagreements and left them fearing a his potential return to his homeland. office.
“The United States continues to play an indispensable role,” Daalder said. “Everyone is looking to us to figure out how to deal with Russia, how to deal with China and, frankly, even how to deal with Israel. We are still seen by our friends and our adversaries as those who will determine the outcome.”
