In a keenly anticipated evening address, President Joe Biden is poised to appeal directly to the American people persevering in their commitment to funding Ukraine and Israel in their respective war efforts. Informed sources within the administration have revealed that this address from the Oval Office is part of the President’s wider campaign to advocate for the continued assistance to these regions.
The focus of Biden’s address will be a substantial funding request to Congress. On the table is a proposal asking for over $100 billion to equip Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the US-Mexico border with essential aid and resources. During his speech, the President is expected to express the necessity of backing Ukraine and Israel in terms of the US’s own national security, during a time when global tensions are reaching a significant turning point.
Biden is set to emphasize the critical trade-off at stake. According to a source within the administration, he will argue that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of remaining involved. This comes several months after the last supplemental funding request was made by the Biden administration, to address urgent needs outside of traditional government programs. Despite the proposal requesting an additional $24.1 billion in support of Ukraine, Congress did not approve it during the procedure to sanction short-term federal funding.
Notably, public sentiment concerning US assistance has been varied, as shown in a recent opinion poll. Across the board, respondents expressed sympathy for Israelis contending with unexpected attacks from Hamas. However, consensus as to the appropriate level of US involvement remains elusive, with 35% arguing the current assistance is well-measured, 36% unsure and the remainder divided in their stance. Despite this, there is a longstanding tradition of US military aid being given to Israel – approximately $4 billion a year.
Contrastingly, enthusiasm for sustaining aid to Ukraine has markedly decreased since Russia’s unanticipated invasion earlier in 2022. In a partisan divide, nearly 75% of Republicans have voiced opposition to further funding for Ukraine, in contrast to 62% of Democrats offering their support. Thus far, the White House and Congress have allocated over $75 billion to assist Kyiv.
As for America’s financial fitness in conducting two simultaneous war efforts, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has appeared confident. Assuring European leaders that the US can secure support for additional aid, she stated in an interview that the US could indeed shoulder the expenses of maintaining aid to both Israel and Ukraine in their struggles.
The President’s imminent address arrives in the aftermath of his trip to the Middle East, a visit that continued even as a blast devastated a hospital in Gaza. Though a planned meeting in Amman, Jordan was cancelled, Biden spent quality time on the ground in Tel Aviv, reinforcing diplomatic relations. Furthermore, President Biden dismisses any notion of disappointment at the meeting cancelation, asserting he had achieved his intended objectives during his trip.
The litmus test appears to be Biden’s faith in face-to-face diplomacy, underlined by his recent visit to the Middle East amidst escalating conflict. Freighted with the burden of decades of relationships, wartime political calculus, and the rapidly shifting dynamics of the global stage, the President strives persistently to foster connections, influence alliances, and change outcomes. Embarking upon hard-lined diplomacy, he leverages his tenure in politics to guide world leaders, challenging them to consider different perspectives and options.
One such reflection of this approach was his lengthy meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Amidst a strained relationship, Biden urged the necessity of deliberation, clear objectives, and a strategic pathway capable of achieving those objectives. This gesture underlines Biden’s confidence in diplomacy’s potential for change and resolution, and his belief in its overriding necessity in an unpredictable global landscape.
