Why US double standards on Israel and Russia play into a dangerous game

Richard Haass, a prominent global analyst, once emphasized the challenge of maintaining consistency in foreign policy, stating, "Consistency in foreign policy is a luxury policymakers cannot always afford." However, stark national hypocrisy can come at a considerable cost, leading to a loss of credibility, damaged global prestige, and diminished self-respect. Joe Biden's recent defense of Israel's actions in Gaza shortly after condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine is not just a matter of concern for liberals and legal experts; it is already impacting relations between the global north and south, as well as between the west and east, with potential repercussions lasting for decades.

Despite the Biden administration's reluctance to alter its course, it appears to recognize a gradual loss of diplomatic support. The fact that the US and Israel found themselves supported by only eight other nations, including Micronesia and Nauru, at the UN General Assembly when rejecting a ceasefire resolution for Gaza in December, challenges the notion that America remains the "indispensable nation."

In contrast, Vladimir Putin, after a period of isolation, perceives a favorable trend, according to Fiona Hill, a former US State Department official specializing in Russia. In a context where rising nations already view the "international rules-based order" skeptically, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov argues that these rules are applied based on the West's needs at any given moment.

Biden's selective approach, particularly linking Ukraine and Israel together in a speech to Congress, may have been effective domestically but poses challenges globally. This selectivity is likely to trigger a broader reckoning, especially in the Global South, where Palestine has historically been treated as a special case. Daniel Levy, an Israeli specialist, notes that the issue has become central to what some term the "poly crisis," symbolizing rebellion against Western hypocrisy and the post-colonial order.

As multilateral institutions face challenges against "the forces of fragmentation," the US stance on Gaza holds significance not only for Gaza itself but for the broader multilateral landscape. If the US continues to defend Israel in a way that goes wrong diplomatically, two potential outcomes are likely: a trend toward shifting non-ideological alliances and an increase in forum shopping by countries or strategic hedging. Alternatively, the US could find itself confronting larger and more assertive alternative blocs, such as an expanded BRICS or other Chinese-led alliances.

Just six months ago, the global landscape looked different, with the West displaying unprecedented solidarity in response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. However, the situation has evolved, and the US handling of Gaza may have implications for the future dynamics of global alliances and multilateralism.

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