In many ways the outcome of the US presidential election will be determined by conflicts abroad – in the Middle East and Ukraine, Bloomberg writes. As the news agency notes, the war between Israel and Hamas weakens the position of the Democratic Party, while the issue of further aid to Ukraine divides the Republican Party.
As a rule, the choice of American voters is based on their views on the economic situation in the country, but this year, Bloomberg writes, the results of the presidential election will be largely determined by two conflicts abroad – in the Middle East and Ukraine.
These conflicts have become a kind of “X-factor” for both leading parties – Republican and Democratic. At the same time, they pose the biggest challenge to incumbent US leader Joe Biden. As the news agency notes, the war between Israel and Hamas is weakening the Democratic Party’s position: its core supporters are demanding a tougher stance on Israel. Opponents of Biden’s Middle East policy have even interrupted his campaign events, accusing the administration of supporting “genocide.”
Fearing losing the votes of young, black Americans as well as Arab voters, Biden signed an executive order this week that will allow Washington to impose sanctions on Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
Donald Trump, Biden’s most likely opponent, has also repeatedly voiced support for Israel, but he has the advantage of being Biden’s decision-maker for now. Bloomberg cites the issue of military aid to Ukraine as the main problem for the Republican Party. While some in the party support further aid to Kiev, many others oppose it.
The gap in the November elections is likely to be small, and therefore neither Biden nor Trump can afford to lose even the smallest margin of support.