Discussion with Richard Haass on the flaws in America's current foreign policy towards Ukraine and Israel, the shift from internationalism to isolationism in the Republican Party, and the potential changes in the U.S. foreign policy consensus. Recommendations for insightful books on historical figures and foreign policy decisions.
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Quick takeaways
America's policies on Ukraine and Israel face criticism from both right and left due to their support roles in conflicts.
Richard Haass argues for a more independent foreign policy, highlighting divergent interests between the US and its allies.
Bipartisan challenges in US support for Ukraine reveal the need for reassessing alliances amidst shifting global dynamics.
Deep dives
Overview of Foreign Policy Crises
The podcast delves into the two major foreign policy crises dominating Joe Biden's presidency: Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the conflict between Hamas and Israel. Initially clear-cut, these crises have evolved into complex situations. Ukraine struggles to fully liberate its territory from Russia, while Israel's harsh response in Gaza has drawn global criticism, casting them as aggressors.
Challenges in American Support
The podcast discusses America's role as a supporting actor in these conflicts, providing arms and aid to Ukraine and Israel. However, as lead actors like Zelensky and Netanyahu steer their own courses, America faces challenges in aligning its policies with theirs. The podcast highlights the criticism of Biden's handling of both Ukraine and Israel, with Republicans leaning towards isolationism and Trumpism.
Analysis of Policy Approaches
The podcast analyzes the need for a new, more independent approach in resolving these crises. It emphasizes the importance of addressing the diverging views between the US and Israel, advocating for direct communication with Israeli people and exploring strategies to express disapproval of Israel's actions without severing ties. The podcast also explores bipartisan challenges in American support for Ukraine amidst divisions within the Republican Party.
Challenges in U.S. Foreign Policy Approach Towards Ukraine and Israel
The podcast discusses the challenges and complexities in the U.S. foreign policy approach towards Ukraine and Israel. It highlights the struggles in supporting these nations effectively without endorsing all of their policies. The administration is seen to be cautious in navigating these relationships to avoid criticism, leading to a lack of clear strategies and reluctance to make necessary adjustments. The discussion emphasizes the difficulties in maintaining support for allies while addressing fundamental policy differences.
The podcast explores how domestic politics influence foreign policy decisions, particularly concerning Ukraine, Israel, and immigration policies. It delves into the tensions between public opinion, bipartisan negotiations, and the need for policy adjustments. The administration is depicted as facing challenges in balancing domestic political considerations with strategic foreign policy objectives, leading to difficulties in enacting significant policy changes and effectively communicating their positions to the public.
Joe Biden’s presidency has been dominated by two foreign policy crises: the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The funding the United States has provided in those wars — billions to both Ukraine and Israel — has drawn backlash from both the right and the left. And now, as the conflicts move into new stages with no clear end game, Biden’s policies are increasingly drawing dissent from the center.
Richard Haass is an icon of the U.S. foreign policy establishment. He served as the president of the Council on Foreign Relations for 20 years and currently writes the newsletter Home & Away. He’s recently been making the case that our foreign policy is insufficiently independent — that we’ve become captured by allies that have interests that diverge from our own. His view of this moment is a signal of larger shifts that could be coming in the U.S. foreign policy consensus.
In this conversation, we discuss why he thinks America’s current strategy on both Ukraine and Israel is untenable, what he thinks the north star for our strategy in both cases should be, the Republican Party’s 180-degree turn from internationalism to isolationism, what America’s biggest national security threat really is and more.
Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.
You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.
This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Rollin Hu. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Mary Marge Locker and Kate Sinclair. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld, with additional mixing from Efim Shapiro. Our senior editor is Claire Gordon. The show’s production team also includes Annie Galvin and Kristin Lin. Original music by Isaac Jones. Audience strategy by Kristina Samulewski and Shannon Busta. The executive producer of New York Times Opinion Audio is Annie-Rose Strasser. Special thanks to Sonia Herrero.
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