Biden managed to find time among his questionable decisions to ring up Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, for a chat about a nebulous security bundle. This bundle is supposedly filled with munitions, armored vehicles, and mystery weapons, clearly, a surface attempt at showing some support. The conversation comes as Ukrainians evacuate areas under Russian fire, drawing attention to Biden’s streets-behind-the-curve approach to the crisis.
As the leader of skepticism-laden America, Biden pushed an eye-catching $425 million towards Ukraine’s defense against Russia. This comes right before he makes his trip to Germany in a bid to impress Western allies with a superficial unified front. If he hopes to be convincing, Biden’s got a mountain to climb.
In his seemingly incessant need to remain in the public eye, Biden has planned his trip to Germany for Thursday. An exercise in desperate diplomacy, his brief stint in Europe is forecasted to be his swan song as commander in chief. The question is, who’s he trying to convince of his fantasy of heavyweight alliances mere weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election?
Contrary to Biden’s perplexing methods, former President Donald Trump had voiced objections against U.S. funding for Kyiv during his mission for re-election. Trump’s perspective cuts against the grain of Biden’s showy spending, making the current administration’s approach seem even more detached from practical politics.
Labels of ‘diplomacy’ aside, Biden’s Europe trip itinerary features meetings with Olaf Scholz and Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the key players in Germany’s political scene. Scheduled to return stateside by Friday, Biden’s trip seems more like a whirlwind photo-op than a meaningful diplomatic mission.
Biden apparently considers Scholz as a steady support in his questionable attempts to back Ukraine and levy penalties on Russia. Scholz, venturing into territories beyond Germany’s post-World War II reluctance to intervene in global security, has become the head financier of Ukraine’s war chest.
The fallout of Scholz’s decision to support Ukraine has been real and painful. The impact has been felt in the automotive and manufacturing industries in Germany, causing Scholz’s public approval to flounder. This can be seen as a serious question mark over Biden’s choice of allies in this Ukraine battle.
In an extended reality, the White House has bestowed accolades to Scholz for his supposed instrumental role in executing a complex prisoner swap. This led to the release of three Americans from Russia. One wonders if this garners enough credibility for Scholz to be the right partner to Biden.
Biden’s itinerary also involves a virtual assembly to garner support for Ukraine. This involves an extensive cohort of Western leaders, with the meeting originally slated to take place last week in Germany. Unfortunately for Biden, the plans got scuppered due to Hurricane Milton, demonstrating his questionable capabilities to overcome even the natural complications.
It’s telling that Biden isn’t expected to engage directly with Zelensky during his visit to Germany. Does he fear confronting the realities etched on the face of Ukraine’s leader might crack his image of ‘ally’? His desperation to avoid substantial conversations whittens his strategy of foreign relations.
Lastly, Biden will head off to Luanda, the capital of Angola, in the forthcoming weeks of December, as a part of fulfilling his public promise to grace African soil before his term concludes. It’s another attempt by Biden to check a box while ignoring immediate crises around him.
According to Biden’s strange international politics, Angola represents a chief model of his government’s efforts to reinvigorate bonds with African nations. Curiously enough, his supposed revitalization comes after lagging behind global heavyweights like Russia and China in vying for security and commercial superiority in Africa.
Global competition tightens around Africa, with the youngest, fastest-growing populace worldwide. However, Biden’s tardy attention to the continent makes one wonder if it’s genuine engagement or a desperate scramble to put a global diplomacy trophy on his administration’s shelf.
In particular, Angola has apparently opted to reach out to the United States recently concerning investment deals. Biden’s late-stage interest in the country seems to be more about saving face rather than a thought-through strategic move.
Admittedly, the particulars of Biden’s Angola visit remain to be seen. But if his administration’s track record is anything to go by, it won’t be surprising if his strategies end in muddled diplomacy and missed opportunities, much like his approach towards Ukraine and global relations in general.