Biden's Fourth Annual 'State of the Union' Address Amid Ongoing Wars in the Middle East and Europe

Joe Biden, the President of the United States, will deliver his fourth 'State of the Union' address on Thursday evening, March 8, in the U.S. Congress. This annual speech typically provides U.S. presidents with an opportunity to highlight their domestic successes and achievements. It is expected that Biden will discuss his administration's performance on issues such as the economy, reproductive rights, gun control, and immigration. However, given that the U.S. is dealing with wars in the Middle East and Europe, foreign policy may take center stage in what could be Biden's fourth and perhaps final annual address in Congress. John Kirby, the White House National Security Council's Strategic Communications Advisor, told Voice of America on Wednesday that the President intends to emphasize his achievements in 'restoring U.S. leadership on the global stage.' He added that U.S. leadership allows for influencing the actions of leaders and adversaries in ways that align more closely with U.S. national security interests. This comes amid significant disagreements between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly on issues such as how to send more humanitarian aid to Gaza, the role of the Palestinian Authority post-war, and the U.S. vision for a future Palestinian state. Another challenge for Biden is the Republican-led House of Representatives blocking a $95 billion foreign aid package that has been approved by the Senate. This package includes $61 billion for support to Kyiv, $14 billion in security assistance for Israel, $9 billion in humanitarian aid, and $5 billion to support Indo-Pacific partners in countering China's influence in the region. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the U.S. strategic competition with China, will be key components of Biden's foreign policy in his speech. Experts believe that the U.S. President will adopt a different approach to address these two issues, considering American voter sentiments ahead of the presidential elections next November. He will likely reiterate his request for the passage of the foreign aid bill, arguing that embracing isolationism while signs of Russia's expansionism are evident is not in America's interest. According to John Herbst, former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, the Biden administration has been successful in garnering international support, which includes significant military and economic aid to Ukraine, major sanctions against Russia, and improving NATO's military posture in Eastern Europe, but has failed to convince American citizens to support this policy. Biden is expected to announce his immediate support for Israelis following Hamas's attack on October 7 and emphasize Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist threats. However, he will approach this topic carefully to avoid exacerbating the divide between pro-Israel Democrats and independents who support his policy in this conflict, and progressive Democrats, American Arabs, and Muslims who are angry with the U.S. government's stance. The deaths of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and Biden's opposition to conditioning U.S. military aid to Israel have sparked anger among a segment of Democrats, particularly in states like Michigan and Minnesota, where they expressed their dissent in the Democratic primary elections by casting blank or 'uncommitted' votes. A Gallup poll released this week shows that 58% of Americans have a positive view of Israel, down from 68% last year, marking the lowest level in over two decades. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the hostage-taking of over 250 others, Israel launched an assault on Gaza aimed at destroying this Iran-backed militant group. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries worldwide have designated the Palestinian group Hamas as a terrorist organization.