Media: Biden’s "Netanyahu first" policy backfires, undermines US interests Analysts Warn

The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is increasingly seen as a major blunder that undermines US national security strategy and destabilizes the Middle East.

Long-standing US foreign policy has sought to balance regional stability, promote economic cooperation, and shift focus toward confronting rising global threats from Russia and China, Caliber.Az reports citing Al Jazeera. However, critics argue that the administration’s support for Netanyahu has derailed these objectives, triggering economic and political turmoil.

In 1986, then-Senator Joe Biden expressed a firm belief in the necessity of US backing for Israel, famously stating, “Were there not an Israel, the United States of America would have to invent an Israel to protect her interest in the region.” At the time, Biden saw no conceivable conflict between the US and Israeli interests. But nearly four decades later, his presidency has revealed how Israel's aggressive policies increasingly conflict with US priorities in the region.

The Biden administration, since taking office, has maintained an unconditional stance towards Israel. This includes giving Netanyahu carte blanche to act aggressively not only in Gaza but also in Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. Critics contend that such actions, particularly Israel's extended war in Gaza and its provocations in Lebanon and Iran, have undermined US efforts to stabilize the region and diminish the military footprint in the Middle East.

The US has long viewed the Middle East as a region of strategic importance, with vast reserves of oil and natural gas crucial to the global economy. In recent years, US policy has sought to reduce its military presence and focus resources on the growing threats from China and Russia. Under the Biden administration, this strategy included efforts to withdraw from Iraq, end combat missions, and promote Israeli-Arab normalization. Yet, Biden's response to the October 7 Hamas attack, and subsequent unconditional support for Israel, has thrown these plans into disarray.

Over the past 15 months, the US has drastically increased its military presence in the region, with navy ships, aircraft carriers, and troops mobilized to protect Israel. In addition, over $22bn in military aid has been directed to Israel, exacerbating tensions with countries like Iran. In the face of international outcry, the US has staunchly defended Israel's actions in Gaza, where at least 45,000 civilians have been killed, and has shielded the Israeli government from calls to cease hostilities.

Not only has the US supported Israel’s military operations in Gaza, but it has also backed Netanyahu’s interventions in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, further deepening instability in the region. Washington’s unwavering commitment to Israel has led it to confront global institutions like the United Nations, weakening its credibility as a defender of international law and human rights.

In particular, US support for Israel’s escalation of hostilities has drawn the ire of Iran, which has responded with missile attacks. This has escalated tensions to the brink of war, threatening to drag multiple state and non-state actors into an uncontrollable regional conflict. “Such a war would drag in multiple state and non-state actors, destroying the economy of Gulf states, and creating a policy quagmire for Washington,” analysts warn.

Moreover, the US’s position has also made it harder to manage nuclear proliferation in the region. Iran’s increasing militarization, coupled with the possibility of other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye pursuing nuclear capabilities, threatens the fragile non-proliferation efforts that have been in place for years.

The risks to global energy security are also severe. With key maritime choke points like the Bab al-Mandeb, the Suez Canal, and the Strait of Hormuz vital to global oil supply, any further Israeli aggression could disrupt the flow of oil and gas, with disastrous consequences for both the US and the global economy.

For many analysts, Biden’s "Netanyahu first" policy risks destabilizing the Middle East and eroding the international order that the US helped create after World War II. The US’s support for Israel’s actions has put it at odds with the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, and the International Court of Justice, exposing the fragility of its position as a global leader.

As Biden's term nears its end, the fallout from his administration's uncritical support for Netanyahu will likely be a central point of reflection. What began as an investment in strengthening an enduring alliance with Israel has turned into a costly and damaging strategy that has put the US at odds with its long-term national security priorities.

Biden’s once-quoted statement from 1986, “There is no apology to be made, none, it is the best $3bn investment we make,” may now be regarded with regret, as analysts warn that the cost of supporting Netanyahu’s policies may have already far exceeded any potential benefits.

By Aghakazim Guliyev