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Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 20 October 2023
by Andreas Schwarzkopf (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
Despite some discord, the U.S. and the EU are standing by Israel and Ukraine.

While cooperation between the Joe Biden administration and the European Union has not been as convincing as planned, no one should overestimate the importance of minor details. EU Presidents Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel have not been able to hide the fact that they are at odds, even in Washington. However, they do not determine the EU's foreign policy. What is more important is that Western allies are standing by Israel and Ukraine.

To this end, U.S. President Biden has reached into his bag of tricks and put together an aid package targeted toward the two countries under attack, but also toward Taiwan and border security against illegal migration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Republicans, who are quarreling in Congress, cannot oppose it if they do not want to harm themselves politically.

No one should forget that even in the case of Ukraine, Western allies discussed and even argued a lot before agreeing on a common line. And, despite some discord, the EU has ultimately stood together when it comes to foreign policy — such as in the case of Donald Trump's punitive tariffs, Brexit, Ukraine and China.

In democracies and in dialogue between their governments, the approach taken is simply to first discuss and then come to a decision — one that is usually a compromise everyone can subsequently implement. It would be a surprise if this were any different in the case of the Middle East conflict.


Ergebnisse zählen

Die USA und die EU stehen trotz einiger Misstöne Israel und der Ukraine bei

Der Schulterschluss zwischen der US-Regierung von Joe Biden und der EU fiel zwar nicht so überzeugend aus wie geplant. Doch sollte niemand Kleinigkeiten zu groß machen. Die EU-Spitzen Ursula von der Leyen und Charles Michel haben zwar auch in Washington nicht verbergen können, dass sie sich nicht grün sind. Sie bestimmen aber nicht die EU-Außenpolitik. Entscheidender ist, dass die westlichen Verbündeten Israel und der Ukraine beistehen.

Dafür griff US-Präsident Biden in die Trickkiste und schnürte ein Hilfspaket nicht nur für die beiden überfallenen Staaten, sondern auch gleich für Taiwan und zur Sicherung der Grenze zu Mexiko vor illegaler Migration. Die im Kongress zerstrittenen Republikaner können nicht ablehnen, wenn sie sich politisch nicht selbst schaden wollen.

Und niemand sollte vergessen, dass die westlichen Verbündeten auch im Falle der Ukraine viel diskutiert und sogar gestritten haben, bevor sie sich auf eine Linie einigten. Und die EU hat außenpolitisch trotz mancher Misstöne am Ende doch zusammengestanden – wie gegen Trumps Strafzölle, dem Brexit, bei der Ukraine oder gegenüber China.

In Demokratien und zwischen deren Regierungen wird eben erst diskutiert und dann entschieden – meist über einen Kompromiss, den dann alle umsetzen können. Es wäre überraschend, wenn es im Falle des Nahost-Konflikts anders wäre.
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