Harris or Trump: Which is better for the Arab region, its peoples and governments?

Americans will go to the polls, on November 5, 2024, to choose their next president from among the US Democratic Party candidate, Kamala Harris, and the Republican Party candidate, Donald Trump, in elections that witnessed a lot of tension and disparity in viewpoints..

Although only the American voter will determine the identity of the winner, there is widespread debate in the Arab region about whether one candidate is better than the other with regard to Arab issues and regional stability.

The wars in Gaza and Lebanon that the region witnessed during the past year increased the interest of the Arab citizen in the identity of the winner, and the extent of his influence on the events taking place in the region.

What are the differences between Harris and Trump?

Some believe that the policy of US Vice President, Kamala Harris, towards the issues of the Arab region will not differ much from the policy of the current US President, Joe Biden, especially since she did not make any clear promises to end the war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Although Harris expressed more strongly than US President Biden the need to end the suffering of civilians in Gaza, she did not clearly pledge to stop the war.

Harris emphasized more than once her support for “Israel’s right to defend itself,” and pledged to guarantee Israel’s security and provide what it needs to ensure that security is achieved.

It is believed in the Arab world that US President Biden and Vice President Harris did not exert sufficient pressure on Israel to stop the Palestinian bloodshed.

Harris’ critics point out that she did not provide any indication that her term – once she arrives – at the helm of the White House and her foreign policy will change significantly from the policy of current US President Biden.

The term of US President Biden witnessed noticeable tension in US relations with Saudi Arabia. The world remembers the way President Biden shook hands with the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, with a fist.

American-Saudi relations were noticeably tense after revealing the killing of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, inside the Saudi embassy in Istanbul, Türkiye.

The Democratic Party attaches importance to human rights issues and freedom of expression, and exerts pressure on various governments in order to allow a margin of freedom for the opposition and relatively fair elections.

The Democratic Party also links, in many cases, the aid it provides to countries and the dealings of these countries’ governments with issues of human rights and freedom of expression.

The administration of US President Biden had withheld part of the military aid it provided to Egypt against the backdrop of human rights criticism directed at the Egyptian regime, before the US administration backed down and decided to resume sending aid.

Regardless of the real backgrounds of these pressures, some believe that they help in some way give space to the opposition.

Unlike Harris, Donald Trump served as president of the United States for four years from 2017 to 2021.

Given Trump’s behavior during his previous presidency, some features of his foreign policy towards the region can be identified.

Trump attaches great importance to the economic file, and his presidency witnessed many trade deals between the United States and several Arab countries, the most important of which were arms deals with Saudi Arabia.

Unlike previous American presidents, the Republican Party candidate does not pressure state governments to implement political reforms or increase the margin of freedom of expression, nor does he openly criticize the human rights files of these countries.

It was noteworthy that former US President Trump refrained from condemning the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, even though the killing of Saudi journalist Khashoggi occurred during his rule.

Trump describes several Arab presidents and leaders as friends, including the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the President of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed, and the Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Trump was the link in the normalization agreements that Israel signed with the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco.

Despite his pledge to end the Ukrainian war, Trump did not make a similar pledge to end the war in Gaza.

Trump criticized what he described as the “pressure” exerted by US President Biden on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Gaza war, calling on the US President not to put pressure on Israel.

During his previous term, Trump gave Israel what no previous American president had done, as he moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, and also recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights.

Trump withdrew from the nuclear agreement that the United States signed with Iran, during the term of President Barack Obama. Trump also imposed sanctions on Tehran in order to force it to agree to a new nuclear agreement with more stringent conditions than the previous nuclear agreement.

Trump’s Arab supporters believe that he is able to impose his will and end conflicts.

• Who is better for the Arab region’s peoples and governments, Harris or Trump?
• What are the fundamental differences between Harris and Trump regarding the issues of the Arab region?
• Does American foreign policy towards the region change with the change of presidents?
• Can Harris or Trump end the war in Gaza and Lebanon? In what form and price?

We will discuss these topics and others with you in the episode of Monday, November 4.

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