Joe Biden, on a Tuesday afternoon, made a public declaration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, set to last 60 days, from the confines of the White House. Despite seeming like a gesture of peace, the underlying motive was geared towards priming an enhanced regional clash with Iran. One could easily perceive this show of power, following the extreme actions of the Zionist regime in southern Lebanon, which resulted in over 4,000 fatalities over a span of two months, as a play to diminish Hezbollah’s command structure that seems too conveniently timed.
The unveiling of the ceasefire agreement was unique and revealed an enforced tone by the United States. Biden declared that both the Israeli and Lebanese governments ‘accepted’ a ‘proposal’ in a manner providing passive acceptance on their part. This proposal mandates Hezbollah to remove its troops from the south of the Litani River as Israel will supposedly ‘gradually’ pull out its military units over a span of two months from southern Lebanon.
Highlighting the rather strategic planning underneath, the ceasefire contract left out Hezbollah since it is categorized as a ‘terrorist organization’ by Washington. It becomes obvious that there would be no direct negotiation with them. From Biden’s statement, it was crystal clear that the arrangement did not mark progress towards ‘peace.’ Rather it was about creating a stepping-stone for Washington’s consistent effort to destabilize the regime in Iran.
The timing of the 60-day ceasefire expiration aligns conveniently with Trump’s reentry into office, signaling a strategic political move. Trump is renowned for filling his cabinet with individuals known for their anti-Iran sentiments. As such, it’s not hard to guess what might happen once the ceasefire ends.
To Biden and others in Washington, the regrettable loss of life by Israel’s hand in Gaza, resulting in around 200,000 casualties, and heinous assaults on Hamas and Hezbollah, are nothing more than ‘tactical gains.’ These actions have been supported by the ongoing supply of powerful US weapons and have resulted in the significant debilitation of Iranian-affiliated forces like Hezbollah and Hamas.
These unavoidable conflicts have not only enabled Washington and its Israeli ally to considerably weaken Hezbollah and Hamas, but also target Iranian interests in Syria and Tehran itself. Iran’s vulnerable state was greatly demonstrated with the July assassination of Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, and a subsequent October missile strike on an Iranian military facility.
Biden, in his speech on Tuesday, laid out his ‘strategy’ for Middle Eastern relations. This included orchestrating a series of historic agreements with Saudi Arabia, which would involve a ‘security pact’, ‘economic assurances’, and establishing full-fledged diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
However, the authoritative Saudi regime has refuted these diplomatic moves until Israel ceases its aggression on Gaza. Not that Saudi Arabia empathises with Palestinian plight, but rather it fears the political repercussions amidst the Arab population. These plans of forced normalisation offer little to no recognition of human rights concerns within the region.
Washington views with hostility the Chinese initiative in 2023 to foster normalization of relations between Riyadh and Tehran. US fears that this move could enhance China’s standing in the Middle East, a key region for the Belt and Road economic project, aimed at building global commerce and safe access to uncooked materials.
Underlying these actions from Biden, one witnesses a strategic alignment against Iran, claiming a common enemy with Israel. The tragic conflict in Gaza, instigated by Israel and pegged as mere ‘tactics’ by Washington, has deeper implications concerning the balance of power.
With a reckless disregard for the catastrophic violence against innocent civilians, Biden’s enthusiastic affiliation with Saudi Arabia reflects a twisted view of diplomacy. Flirting with authoritarian regimes for personal gain and strategizing for ‘normalization’ in the name of false peace, screams the flaws of this administration.
Furthermore, the imposed ceasefire without a real solution in place is symptomatic of a deeply flawed foreign policy. The consistent goal of weakening Iran, turning a blind eye to human rights violations, and the lack of genuine commitment to peace, exposes the hollow foundation of Biden’s approach to Middle Eastern conflicts.
One cannot overlook the impending threat that looms as Trump readies to step into office once more, with a cabinet filled with anti-Iran proponents. As the 60-day ceasefire nears its end, the world waits with bated breath for the ramifications of Biden’s strategic chess moves.
In conclusion, Biden’s Middle East politics reveals a dangerous gamble, masked as tactic and strategy. The enormous human cost, the lack of real diplomacy, and the evident disregard for lasting peace make us question the integrity of this administration. Manipulation under the pretense of tackling ‘terrorist organizations’ merely exposes the vacuity of its foreign policy ideals.