Biden’s critics say the diplomatic challenges he faces in Europe cannot be blamed on anyone but his own inconsistent approach to international crises.
“I think the contradiction is U.S. policy,” said Peter Love, director of the Center for Europe and Eurasia at the Hudson Institute and a former aide to President George W. Bush. “In Ukraine, he supported Ukraine’s fight against Russia’s alliance with Iran, while in Gaza, he ran Israel and even restricted it because it faced Iranian proxies.”
On the other hand, some foreign policy veterans say Biden has gotten himself into trouble by being overly supportive of Israel.
Eric Rubin, a long-time U.S. diplomat and former U.S. president, said: “I am not at all sure that Biden has made the right choice on Israel and Gaza, although I recognize that he and our country have In limbo. “Israel has lost the sympathy of most other countries and its citizens, and I fear we won’t see it regain it in our lifetimes. “
But some diplomats say that ultimately France and other allies will ultimately defer to the United States on such matters. Although he will find them on separate pages, Mr. Biden has maintained constructive relationships with his peers, unlike his predecessor and likely successor, Donald J. Trump, who was embroiled in disagreements And rebuked European allies, making them worried that he might return to the United States.
“The United States still plays an indispensable role,” Mr. Dalde said. “Everyone is counting on 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 adversaries as the ones who will determine the outcome.