The U.S.-led international order, painstakingly built over the years, is facing a significant challenge as support from the Global South begins to unravel. The recent muscular support by President Biden for Israel’s assault on Gaza has triggered a wave of concern and outrage, threatening the credibility of Western leaders and their commitment to the rules-based order.
A Growing Rift:
As Western leaders condemned the massacre carried out by Hamas, many in the Global South concurred. However, the issue arose when Western politicians, particularly in the U.S., seemed to grant Israel a carte blanche to defend itself. The resulting death toll in Gaza, with a disproportionate number of women and children among the casualties, has surpassed previous Hamas-Israel conflicts. This drew comparisons to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a parallel rejected by many in the Global South since Palestinians have endured years of Israeli occupation.
Eroding Support:
Bolivia has cut ties with Israel, and Colombia and Chile have recalled their ambassadors as the death toll rises in Gaza. During his visit to the White House, President Gabriel Boric of Chile condemned the Israeli government’s response to the Hamas attack, casting a spotlight on Biden’s position. Moreover, the U.S. veto of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a “humanitarian pause” generated widespread anger and further fueled perceptions of double standards. Questions were raised about why the lives of Ukrainians seemed more valuable than those of Palestinians.
Challenges and Acknowledgement:
Senior Western officials acknowledged the perception of double standards and voiced concerns about losing credibility. The Cairo peace summit, which gathered officials from various regions, further exposed the perceived hypocrisy regarding Russia’s actions and Israel’s alleged breaches of humanitarian law. This geopolitical inconsistency, as labeled by some, undermines the international order.
Diverse Dissent:
Contrary to the common perception of a Global South vs. Global North division, outrage and discontent have emerged within European nations and even among the Democratic voting base in the United States. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has stirred dissent among junior personnel within the Biden Administration, some of whom have publicly voiced their concerns.
The Call for Change:
Across the political spectrum and leading think-tanks, hundreds of Western Middle East specialists have called for a ceasefire, reflecting a growing sentiment among various actors. Mass demonstrations in cities like New York, London, and Paris have demanded a ceasefire, a position that the Biden Administration has been hesitant to embrace. Despite the non-binding motion in the U.N. General Assembly for a ceasefire, backed by the majority of member nations, the challenge remains.
Rebuilding Credibility:
Future crises are inevitable in international affairs. To uphold the U.S.-led international order and its commitment to international law, Western capitals must undergo substantial reform and ensure consistent application. From the U.S.-led war in Iraq to Israel’s perceived disproportionate use of force in Gaza, the Global South sees double standards. Without addressing these concerns and reforming the international order accordingly, Western credibility will continue to erode, jeopardizing the prospect of global cooperation based on shared values.
While the U.S.-led international order remains preferable to a “might is right” approach favored by Russia and China, it must adapt, reform, and be consistently applied based on international law. Failing to do so will impel the Global South to disregard Western influence and diminish their trust in the rules-based system. It is crucial to heed the voice of the G7 diplomat who warned that without meaningful change, the battle in the Global South has already been lost, putting at risk the prospects of a rules-based world order.
Market Capital Research 