How the Biden/Harris Administration Altered the Middle East Landscape in Five Steps

When Joe Biden assumed the presidency, the Middle East was relatively calm. However, the region is now embroiled in a multifront war. The tranquility inherited from the Trump administration was such that Biden's national security advisor, Jack Sullivan, could still boast on September 29, 2023, that the Middle East was quieter than it had been in two decades. So, what caused the shift from this inherited peace to the present chaotic state?

Unleashing Iran

The answer lies primarily with Iran, a theocratic nation at the heart of most current Middle East terrorism and conflict. The Biden-Harris administration effectively unleashed Iran, which had been restrained by the Trump administration. They implemented a five-step revisionist protocol that appeased and encouraged Iran and its terrorist affiliates, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. This led to a near certainty of violence, such as the October 7 massacres, and a subsequent year of turmoil that has now consumed the Middle East.

First Step: Damning Saudi Arabia

During his 2020 campaign, Biden condemned long-time American ally Saudi Arabia as a "pariah." He diverged from the policies of both the Obama and Trump administrations by siding with the Iranian-backed terrorist group, the Houthis, in their war against Saudi Arabia. The Biden-Harris administration accused Saudi Arabia of war crimes and removed the Houthis from the U.S. terrorist list. This led to continuous Houthi attacks on international shipping, Israel, and U.S. warships, effectively closing the Red Sea and the entrance to the Suez Canal to international maritime transit.

Second Step: Abandoning the Abraham Accords

The Biden-Harris administration discarded the Trump administration's "Abraham Accords," a diplomatic breakthrough that provided a successful framework for moderate Arab nations to seek détente with Israel and unite against the common Middle East threat of Iran.

Third Step: Reentering the Iran Deal

The administration urged Iran to rejoin the so-called Iran Deal, which critics argue would ultimately enable Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. They also lifted oil sanctions against Iran, allowing the country to recoup $100 billion in profits and approved $6 billion in hostage ransoms to Tehran.

Fourth Step: Restoring Aid to the West Bank and Gaza

The Biden-Harris administration reinstated hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the West Bank and Gaza, without any assurances that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas would cease their past terrorist activities.

Fifth Step: Pressuring Israel

The administration began pressuring Israel to act "proportionally" in response to the massacre of some 1,200 Israelis and nearly 20,000 missiles, rockets, and drones launched at their homeland from Iran, the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

The Motivation Behind the Actions

The Biden-Harris administration's actions can be attributed to a few factors. They attempted to revive the discredited Obama administration concept of 'creative tension,' which involved empowering Iran and its terrorists to counterbalance Israel and the moderate Arab regimes. They also succumbed to rising anti-Semitism at home and the emergence of influential pro-Palestinian groups on U.S. campuses and in key Electoral College states. Lastly, the administration was naive and credulous, buying into the anti-Americanism and anti-Israel rhetoric of our enemies.

Bottom Line

The actions of the Biden-Harris administration have significantly altered the landscape of the Middle East. Their decisions have led to an escalation of conflict and tension in the region. What are your thoughts on these developments? Share your views and discuss this article with your friends. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.