Biden's helplessness and Trump's destructiveness

Representative Mike Johnson, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, became the latest political casualty of former President Trump this week with two significant defeats. Johnson's attempt to remove Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas failed due to three Republican representatives voting against it. Subsequently, Johnson's move to vote on a $17.6 billion aid package for Israel also failed with opposing votes from both parties. Johnson's lack of political leadership experience is among the significant reasons for this situation. Trump's reluctance to resolve issues such as the immigration crisis and Israel in Congress, which he wanted to use in his presidential election campaign, makes it difficult for Republicans to act unitedly. When the legislative process becomes election-oriented, Congress cannot produce solutions or shake off its dysfunctional image.

More
Biden's helplessness and Trump's destructiveness
US foreign policy outlook in 2024

US foreign policy outlook in 2024

The year 2023 began relatively strong for the U.S. in terms of its claim to global leadership in foreign policy. However, due to a strategic blind spot in the context of the Gaza conflict, it ended on a disappointing note. In the upcoming year, it is not difficult to predict that the Biden administration will attempt to diminish this loss of reputation. However, President Biden's unwavering support for Israel poses a significant obstacle. While Washington acknowledges the unsustainability of this stance, overcoming it to influence Israel's "war cabinet" will require more than leaking discontent to the press. In 2024, Biden must shift his focus from providing ideological support to Israel and concentrate on repairing America's political interests and reputation. Failing to do so will hinder his ability to unite his party or establish superiority in the power struggle with Russia and China.

More

The tension in the Indo-Pacific region is escalating day by day due to steps adopted by the United States concerning the Taiwan issue. Washington aims to wear out China, with which it is engaged in global competition, and to besiege it in the Pacific. In light of the latest developments, which pose a high risk in terms of global security and stability, the possibility that the crisis may turn into a war has sparked fear. This has left many to wonder how European countries will react if China decides to attack Taiwan.

French President Emmanuel Macron's statements after his visit to China, where he was received with state ceremonies, regarding Europe's need to reduce its dependency on the U.S. and not take sides in a conflict between China and the U.S. over Taiwan, has caused a stir in Washington. Macron's assertion that Europe needs to gain "strategic autonomy" and that the greatest risk in achieving this is "getting involved in crises that do not belong to us" has been interpreted as a disagreement between France and the U.S. on the issue of Taiwan. While it is difficult to say that the concept of strategic autonomy has broad support throughout Europe, it is clear that the U.S.-Europe alliance is not on the same page. Although the Biden administration has managed to keep the transatlantic alliance together on the issue of Ukraine, it will be much more difficult to maintain the same unity in the event of a possible invasion of Taiwan.

Natural disasters, wars, and economic collapse tend to seriously undermine social order and make it impossible to address even people’s most basic needs. During such periods, it becomes difficult for communities to feed themselves, find shelter, receive medical attention, relocate, and communicate with others. Individuals and communities have provided emergency assistance to such individuals, without expecting anything in return, to address basic needs like food, shelter, and medical treatment throughout history.

The renewed Taiwan crisis, which is at the core of the hottest developments to arise in the U.S.-China rivalry, has revealed the great power struggle between Washington and Beijing

Two straits and the great power competition

As the great power competition gains momentum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Sochi. The items on today’s agenda include the grain corridor, Ukraine, Syria and bilateral relations, starting with economic cooperation.

More
Two straits and the great power competition
Taiwan 1st COVID-related fallout in US-China relations

Taiwan: 1st COVID-related fallout in US-China relations

When the coronavirus outbreak started to spread around the world in February, there were a lot of debates about the pandemic's potential implications on world politics and the international system. Some thought that the outbreak will be transformative for the international system. According to them, the outbreak could change the balance of power in the world by changing the main dynamics. However, their viewpoints were challenged by a different group of scholars.

More

The trade war between the U.S. and China will not remain confined to the two, but could have huge impacts on many other actors in the global system

The rise of institutional economics brought the quality of participatory social and economic institutions to the fore as a crucial prerequisite for sustainable development, as well as an alleviation of income disparities.

The positive atmosphere of Trump's visit to China may not help the U.S. re-engage the realities of the global system, but it is a good start

Trump's visit to five countries in Asia is a good opportunity for the U.S. to restore diplomatic ties with regional countries

Since Trump took over the presidency, there has been a lack of strategy in U.S. foreign policy

At this point it is not clear what options the U.S. is really considering and if armed intervention is among them, something that has never been done against a nuclear power before due to the risks.

The latest meeting between Trump and Xi gave no concrete indication of whether any discussion on how the fluctuating relationship between the U.S. and China will continue in the future

The already weakened ties with allies in the region due to former U.S. President Obama's policies may receive another blow after the U.S.'s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, unless Trump is quick to take action to fix ties

Trump’s tweets and phone conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen demonstrated he wants to shake things up in regards to China

Although the incoming Trump administration's strategy in the global arena remains blurry, it is certain the world will be never the same after the inauguration ceremony

After the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 20, the most critical issue on the Trump administration's desk will be efforts to put the U.S. back into the game of reshaping the new balance of power

Trump is totally unpredictable and his victory was unprecedented so any analysis is unlikely to predict future U.S. foreign policy

Analysts that haven't seen such Trump's suprising diplomatic style in international relations, cannot comment on the future of the frozen US-China relations