The recent détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran has many foreign policy observers pondering what this means for global politics and America’s role in the world. More questions were raised by President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Moscow this past week, during which China is reported to have floated the parameters of a Russia-Ukraine peace plan to end the war which is disrupting the international system and leading to inflation, particularly in the price of oil and grain.
The international community is also reading the tea leaves about statements made by some prominent Republicans about the importance and wisdom of American policy toward Ukraine. What might this mean for American commitments going forward? The top two contenders for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination have each, directly and indirectly, criticized the Biden Administration’s handling of this crisis and even suggested that Ukraine was not an American national security priority.
Robust debate has been one of the most important aspects of American democracy. Generally, debate has led to greater resolve and strength. But consensus about what the United States stands for, and how power and influence is deployed, has always been difficult to determine and sometimes leads to partisan division which can lead to destabilizing misinterpretations and misunderstandings about American intent.
The new Chinese foreign policy activism represents a departure from Beijing’s traditional focus on expanding global economic influence without assuming responsibility for strengthening security, resolving conflict, or potentially assuming peacekeeping responsibilities outside of the purview of the United Nations. In the Middle East, the United States has unquestionably been the most influential outside player in the region. Israel, the Gulf States, and other regional allies such as Jordan and Egypt have long relied upon US commitments to minimize regional conflicts and protect others with through US foreign assistance, trade agreements, or military might. What does China’s new Saudi-Iranian initiative mean for the region going forward? In the Ukraine, what does the Chinese peace proposal mean for Ukraine and American-NATO efforts to support Kiev and punish Moscow?
It remains to be seen if China’s peace proposals will succeed, or whether newfound activism means China is assuming greater global leadership. Perhaps China only sees an opportunity, narrowly applied, to demonstrate global leadership. But what it clearly suggests is that American policymakers must recognize that the global rules are evolving. Washington must actively work to adjust policies to meet the time and challenges not only posed by these two conflicts, but to shape global response to other issues such as climate change, supply chain, trade liberalism, security, and migration, among many others. Global Perspectives & International Initiatives will continue to sponsor speakers, meetings, conferences, and other activities that examine and inform about key global challenges. We hope the UCF community will continue to participate in these discussions, and encourage student, faculty, and community involvement in our projects in the coming months.