Can Biden’s Moderateness Help the Middle East?
Joseph Biden has been always known as a neoliberal, moderate figure in the US political system. In his long years of service as senator of the Delaware, Biden has always followed a middle lien approach towards international issues, as the conflicts going on in Middle East. Biden’s stance today, is not in contradiction to the history of his career in diplomacy.
The Obama-Biden couple still seems to be the best combination to advance United States’ strategic policies in the international arena, particularly the Middle East; much more effective than the catastrophic Bush-Cheney team which once ruled the White House. To analyze Joseph Biden’s visit to Middle East, there are two separate, yet interconnected, problems needed to be taken into consideration. First pertains to the relations between Iran and other Middle East states. How should Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan behave towards Iran? The other is reactivation of the long frozen peace negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis and to accelerate the achievement of two-state solution supported by all administrations of the United States.
Therefore, in his talks with Israeli officials Vice President Biden underlined that his country is against any unilateral action by Israel towards the Islamic Republic of Iran. Biden is aware that Iran has the ability to counter and retaliate in case of a sudden attack by Israel. More importantly, Tehran has strong motives to use force against Israel. Any military measures by Israel would put the entire region in jeopardy.
Back to the other point; how could a multiparty coalition in Middle East contain Iran’s active diplomacy in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine? Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been weary and frequently warned of the so-called ‘Shiite crescent’. They have made consistent efforts to curb Shiite influence in their countries. Clearly Washington prefers relations between Tehran and its neighbors to be based on zero-sum game rather than cooperation. This is a serious concern of Barack Obama and Joseph Biden. They are completely against any radical steps which would take the game out of moderates’ hands, so they warn Israel about any simplistic attack on Iran. Meanwhile, they don’t stop to persuade Arab countries acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state in the heart of Middle East.
Biden’s moderate temperament as a moderate, liberal American politicians clearly explain the characteristics of the new regional balance and the need to return back to the table of negotiations and discuss issues such as formation of an independent Palestinian national authority.