How Not to Conduct Foreign Policy

Undoubtedly, it is the most interesting and important question in foreign policy. The question is-- should we overlook human rights abuses in order to maintain good relations with foreign nations. The principle applies to our relations with China. It also applies to our relations with Saudi Arabia.

You might consider it essential that we defend the Uyghur minority in China? But, what is it costing us to do so? For example, we read that cancer drugs are in short supply in America. And we know that these drugs are largely produced by India and China.

Again, what are we willing to pay to take a stand on the human rights of the Uyghurs. And what are we willing to pay for the privilege of denouncing China as a genocidal nation, an evil empire, and so on. Attacking reputation is a good way to provoke conflict. Or to provoke slowdowns in manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

If you think that this just proves that China is evil, consider that if you want to shut down the fentanyl mills producing the chemical ingredients of that drug, which are in China, you need to have better diplomatic relations with China. 

While we are attacking their reputation, sanctioning and tarriffing their products, working hard to damage their economy, we are not in the position to ask for favors.

As I have noted on several occasions, when the Russian army was massing on the border of Ukraine, American officials put in a call to the president of China. They wanted him to intervene with Putin and to tell him to call off the invasion. The Chinese asked to see our intelligence, which we dutifully provided. Then they sent the intelligence to Moscow and refused to return our calls.

We understand that the Trump administration decided to play tough with China. Aside from imposing sanctions and tariffs, they had the chief financial officer of China's largest company arrested in Canada. We felt genuinely righteous. The Chinese thought it was an act of war.

This is obviously Kissingerian foreign policy, but still, when you decide to take the moral high ground and to conduct foreign policy in terms of human rights and moral preening, you are going to pay a price. 

Anyway, Jeff Dunetz explains the cost of calling the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, one Mohammed bin Salman, an assassin. In truth, Joe Biden who decided to attack the reputation of the crown prince, doubtless because the Trump administration managed to construct the Abraham Accords, the most consequential foreign policy achievement in the Middle East in decades.

In a 2020 primary debate, Biden said this about Saudi Arabia:

“I would make it very clear we were not going to in fact sell more weapons to them, We were going to in fact make them pay the price, and make them in fact the pariah that they are.” Biden also said there is “very little social redeeming value in the present government in Saudi Arabia,” and, in reference to Yemen, said he would end “end the sale of material to the Saudis where they’re going in and murdering children.”

More recently, when the Saudi government chose to decrease petroleum production, the Biden administration issued a series of threats.

The Washington Post reported:

Last fall, President Biden vowed to impose “consequences” on Saudi Arabia for its decision to slash oil production amid high energy prices and fast-approaching elections in the United States.

In public, the Saudi government defended its actions politely via diplomatic statements. But in private, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman threatened to fundamentally alter the decades-old U.S.-Saudi relationship and impose significant economic costs on the United States if it retaliated against the oil cuts, according to a classified document obtained by The Washington Post.

Of course, Saudi Arabia has been getting much closer to both China and Iran. Again, this is certainly not in our best interest.

Again, when you decide to occupy the moral high ground, you might discover that you have made yourself a target. Worse yet, by disrupting relations with foreign nations you risk pushing them toward alliances with America’s enemies.

People think that attacks on the reputation of world leaders are inconsequential. They are not.

If you have not yet done so, I invite you to subscribe to my Substack.