CIt’s no surprise: American voters choose their president based on domestic considerations. In the autumn of 2024, inflation, the right to abortion, the migration crisis and even the preservation of democracy are the most debated topics. Foreign policy remains second, although echoes of the wars in Ukraine, Gaza and now Lebanon have characterized the campaign.
But in reality there is no longer a clear distinction between internal and external issues. Joe Biden theorized this during his first foreign policy address in February 2021: “There is no longer a clear boundary between foreign policy and domestic policy. Any action we take abroad must be done with America’s working families in mind. Advancing a pro-middle class foreign policy requires an urgent focus on our domestic economic renewal. » The defense of American jobs, the rejection of the symbolic free trade agreements of the 1990s and the absence of appetite for any new war form a new consensus in Washington, from which each draws different conclusions.
In this regard, the contrast between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris is striking. The November 5 presidential election is also a referendum on America’s place in the concert, or rather the clash of nations. A vote on American values and interests. A choice between the classic defense of multilateralism and a vision of a chaotic world, of a jungle where Washington should favor balance of power over cooperation.
“This election has enormous historical significanceemphasizes Charles Kupchan, professor of international relations and expert at the think tank Council on Foreign Relations. Today, the political center of liberal democracies is in trouble, whether it is here in France, in Germany, in Italy or in Brazil. If Trump won, it would be a very worrying signal for the future of ideological moderation in the Western world. » In the United States, adds Charles Kupchan, foreign policy has become the subject of strong polarization between Democrats and Republicans, since the latter, under the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, is no longer forming. “an internationalist party”.
Foreign policy is approached without nuance to damage the opponent’s credibility. The candidates accuse each other of weakness, but in a different sense of the word. Donald Trump is condemning the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 to highlight the Biden-Harris administration’s alleged disregard for America’s reputation and the fate of its soldiers. Conversely, Kamala Harris emphasizes the venality and narcissism of her opponent, making him easy prey for America’s enemies.
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