Analyzing Biden’s First Diplomatic Overtures
While the Trump administration adopted an indifferent and transactional approach to American foreign policy, Biden is more interested in resurrecting the internationalist approach to re-induct America in the world’s most important institutions and relationships and signal that America is ready to take the helm of world leadership.
Has EU-China Deal Isolated the US?
The deal has come as a surprise as well as a blow to the US and the advocates of transatlantic cooperation. It has baffled the US to see the EU sign an investment pact with China just weeks before Joe-Biden officially sworn in as the President of the US. This sudden step by the EU might result in a number of things. It can compel the new US President to rethink its relationship with the EU. The country will find it hard to trust the EU and its offers in the future. Many contend that, by signing the deal with China, the EU wanted to imply that it is independent of the US.
The Failed Project of Liberal Democracy
People are starting to realize that liberal democracy is no longer delivering on its core promises. It is just filled with hollow promises; many Americans feel as if the government has become unresponsive to their needs. The privileged access of the rich allows them to get richer; using their connections to promote their own interests while the poor keep getting poorer because of political and selfish interests being put above their needs.
How Did the Taliban Gain Public Support?
Taliban revisited their own ideologies and adopted them in accordance with the changing times in matters of governance, technology, and most importantly, in the realm of public services. Their strategy was wide and clear to supersede the Government in Kabul, which became their underlying motto and can be seen as a winning stride in their evolution from 2010 onwards.
The Increasing Influence of Iran in Afghanistan
The turbulent emergence of Revolutionary Iran coincided with the conquest of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union some four decades ago. Iran is an ambitious regional player with a strong view of its complex world and a deliberate attempt to map a path through it. The rotten relationships of both countries are because of the fluctuating pattern of its interactions with the relevant stakeholders.
Trump’s Legacy in the Middle East
Trump had made four promises in the election campaigns regarding the Middle East in 2016. These promises were to shift the Israel embassy to Jerusalem, scrap the deal with Iran, dismantle ISIS, and to make peace in the Middle East. He has a lot of successes and some unsuccessful efforts in the Middle East.
Russo-Taliban Rapprochement
United States secret service officials have said that Russia is providing the money and bounties to the Taliban for targeting the US-led forces, which is brokered by local Afghan businessmen who resides in Kunduz, the northern part of Afghanistan. The intelligence officials have reported several Taliban Commanders and local businessmen and politicians as well, travelling back and forth to Tajikistan, the Russian intelligence stronghold. Most of the Afghan politicians have their homes and contacts in Moscow. Furthermore, Russia has Soviet-trained military generals in Afghanistan who host their missions and provide accommodation and also provide intelligence services. Russia wants to see a friendly government in Afghanistan, which would help advance its interests in the region.
Intra-Afghan Talks: Breakthroughs, Concerns & Questions
There is a shift in the Taliban’s old mindset; they are more advanced and going parallel to the world. The Afghan government must also realize to keep flexibilities in their stances to give an attractive political solution for the Afghan conflict and ensure peace a chance. In the meantime, Pakistan has played an important role in bringing both parties to Doha’s negotiating table. It’s a better time for Islamabad to get their positive influence over Kabul and strengthen their friendship.
Fakhrizadeh’s Assassination & Future of US-Iran Conflict
The assassination of the founder of Iran’s nuclear program is an incident that continues to pose problems as the inauguration of Joe Biden is only thirty odd days away. This assassination followed an unofficial meeting hosted by Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) of Saudi Arabia, in which the participation of Benjamin Netanyahu and Mike Pompeo’s has been confirmed by the officials of Israel. Strangely enough, this murder took place at a time when there were rumors of President Trump attacking Iran.
Biden’s Presidency and South Asia
The election of President-elect Joe Biden and his Vice-President Kamala Harris is most likely to end this vacuum of American policy for the region and engage with the region with strategic insight and assertiveness. Joe Biden was awarded Hilal-e-Pakistan, the second-highest civil-award of the country, and Kamal Harris has ancestral roots in India. The personalized nature of their relationships to both of these countries will indeed influence the interaction once the Biden administration leads the White House. However, in the spirit of previous American interactions with the region, the Biden administration’s interaction with South Asia will be clouded by two mega strategic matters: The rise of China and the Conflict in Afghanistan.