For US President Joe Biden, Middle Eastern countries are only "junior partners."
That’s the consensus of countries throughout the region with regard to the United States, according to journalist Elijah Magnier who appeared on Radio Sputnik’s Fault Lines on Saturday to discuss Biden’s troubled stewardship of US foreign policy.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin had deepened ties with Middle Eastern powers simply by treating them as equals.
Host Jamarl Thomas noted the Russian leader held a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi for five hours during his visit to Moscow this week, a sign of their mutual respect and shared interest in building a multipolar world order.
Putin stressed the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation in many areas.
Tehran’s recent entry into the BRICS economic bloc should only strengthen the nation’s ties to Russia in the years to come. But Iran isn’t the only Middle Eastern country moving closer to Moscow.
Magnier noted that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two of the United States’ strongest allies in the region, have refused to condemn Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine.
Along with other global powers, the countries also resisted calls to join America in sanctioning Russia, meaning US policy intended to isolate Moscow has only contributed to destroying US credibility in the Middle East.
“The only thing they’ve brought to the Middle East is war,” the journalist emphasized.
Russia’s importance in the global order and respect for others’ sovereignty means they are able to play a mediating role few other countries can play according to Magnier, making them a much more attractive partner than the United States.
In the meantime Biden has floundered in the Middle East as attempts to convince Saudi Arabia to produce more oil have instead led to the country decreasing output. Surprisingly, a president who campaigned on foreign policy experience as a strength has only worsened US relations in the key region. Rather than expanding US influence in the Middle East, Thomas says Biden has only served as a symbol of US hubris and arrogance.
RHM