Joe Biden, in an ostensible move of resilience, engaged in telephonic communication with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, talking overations related to a scheme involving munitions, armored vehicles and other weapons. With apparent whimsy, he allocated a largess of $425 million to bolster Ukraine’s defense against Russia. The rationale behind this decision seems to be an attempt to paint a picture of unity amongst Western allies.
The phone call with President Zelensky revolved around the so-called security package – a generic assortment of munitions, armored vehicles, and other ostensibly useful tools of war. Yet, one might question the effectiveness and validity of this package when thrown into the chaotic battlefield.
This half-baked initiative comes at the heels of Biden’s planned official visit to Germany, seemingly representing his final foray into Europe as commander in chief. An ironic event as he intends to preach about the importance of alliances barely three weeks before the U.S. presidential election.
The former leader of the free world, Donald J. Trump, has candidly criticized U.S. aid for Kyiv, highlighting the futility of such ventures. His stance screams of logic, as he currently campaigns for another term in office, pledging a more prudent approach in international assistance.
During his visit to the European scene, Biden’s entourage will include meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier of Germany. While it might seem noteworthy to have dialogue with these figures, one must question the practical outcome.
Interestingly, Biden has come to perceive Chancellor Scholz as a reliable collaborator in his quixotic endeavors to sustain Ukraine and enforce sanctions on Russia. Yet, despite the elevated status in Biden’s eyes, Scholz struggles with Germany’s post-World War II security conundrum, having surfaced as a prominent financier of Ukraine’s war coffers.
This support, however generous it may come across, comes laced with repercussions, the German auto and manufacturing sectors are left struggling amidst the conflict. The crippling blow to these industries reflects poorly on Scholz’s approval ratings, a testament to the dubiousness of this entire operation.
The big-league players of the White House have also lauded Scholz for his alleged instrumental role in a conspicuously complicated prisoner swap that supposedly liberated three Americans from Russian captivity. However, considering the ineptitudes Biden’s administration has exhibited, such proclamations could be merely damage control.
In addition to this charade, Biden has the intention to propel support for Ukraine by organizing a virtual meeting with a larger faction of Western leaders, all while comfortably stationed in his residence. This meeting was scheduled for a face-to-face interaction at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, but thanks to ‘Hurricane Milton’, it was shifted to the virtual world.
Despite asserting his support for Ukraine and scheduling a call with its President Zelensky, Biden ironically shows no plans to meet Zelensky in person during his visit to Germany. This raises significant questions about the extent of his commitment to Ukraine and his true intentions.
Not restricting his antics to Europe, Biden also intends to travel to Luanda, the capital of Angola, early in December. This appears as a desperate bid to check the boxes on his commitment to Africa before his term concludes; yet not much is expected to transpire in terms of real progress.
Seemingly, Biden regards Angola as a prime representation of his administration’s attempts to rectify relationships with African nations after being overshadowed by Russia and China in terms of security and economic influence. Yet, skeptics may view this as nothing more than empty diplomatic rhetoric.
While Africa’s increased relevance in the global competition is undisputed, with a dynamic, young, and rapidly expanding populace, it is curious that Angola, of all places, seems to have stolen America’s interest for investment. Under Biden’s ambiguous leadership, one can only speculate the transparency and efficacy of such initiatives.