February 27, 2023 | The Dispatch
A Time for American Stability—and Power
Our allies are pondering whether we are still a superpower.
February 27, 2023 | The Dispatch
A Time for American Stability—and Power
Our allies are pondering whether we are still a superpower.
Excerpt
Signs of waning American influence are omnipresent in the Middle East. The Saudis turn the oil spigot on and off without the careful coordination that was once a hallmark of Washington-Riyadh ties, and they are also slow-rolling diplomacy with Israel despite the urging of officials in Washington. The United Arab Emirates is partnering with Chinese tech giant Huawei for its 5G network, shrugging off U.S. warnings. Other regional countries are deepening business ties with Beijing, too. Jordan is pulling away from the U.S.-brokered alliance with Israel. Meanwhile, the Israelis and Palestinians continue to balk at peacemaking efforts, despite American exhortations to return to the table.
Traditional allies in the region have not abandoned us, but some may be eyeing the exits. We could wag our fingers at them, but that’s not going to solve the problem. They want American leadership, and we’re not delivering.
Jonathan Schanzer is senior vice president for research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Follow him on Twitter @JSchanzer. FDD is a nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.