Is US foreign policy supported by a strong strategic logic? Or is it more like what Harold MacMillan said in 1957 in response to the question of what principles will govern his foreign policy: Events, my lovely little guy
The US increases its military presence in Europe with a long-term commitment to Ukraine, sends more ships and Marines to the Persian Gulf, and pushes for new security commitments from Saudi Arabia in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel.
US Grand Plan: Everywhere at Once
At the same time, Washington strengthens its alliances in Asia to compete with China.
You might be excused for believing that the US grand plan seems to be everywhere at once.
Why? Because having a goal and coordinating means and ends to accomplish it is a strategy. Actually, strategy is all about what you decide not to do.
The National Security Strategy was published by the White House in October. It identified rivalry between the great powers as the US’s biggest concern.
As seen by its assault on Ukraine, it claims that Russia is an urgent danger.
However, it characterizes China as a singular, ultimate challenge since it is the only rival with the intention to change the world order as well as an expanding amount of economic, military, and technical strength to do so.
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Balancing Priorities in US Strategy
According to the National Security Strategy, there is a need for international collaboration to address global issues including climate change, pandemics, food insecurity, and energy shortages.
But it doesn’t explain how such collaboration might occur if the US is in competition with superpowers like China, which is the biggest producer of greenhouse gasses in the world.
It may be argued that Biden’s often cited claim, which is also a key subject of the National Security Strategy, that the conflict between democracies and autocracies is the problem of our times contributes to the justification for the US’s increased involvement in Europe and the Middle East.
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