President elect Joe Biden has been embraced by many Greeks and even media in Greece seem to have embraced the myth that Biden will conduct a pro Greek foreign policy. The problem here is that very few have actually done a real analysis of Biden’s foreign policy advocacy and the past record of the Democratic Party on Greek issues. There are serious obstacles facing Greek-American relations under the incoming Biden administration.
In the past, Democratic administrations have not been good for Greece. For example, the Carter administration despite proclaiming a pro human rights foreign policy lifted the arms embargo on Turkey that Congress imposed after the Turkish invasions of Cyprus during the summer of 1974. Furthermore, Bill Clinton promised he would not recognize the former Yugoslav Republic of Skopje with the name of Macedonia (more on the significance of this below).
The Clinton administration had the chance to demonstrate its friendly stance toward Greece on January 31, 1996 when Turkey claimed the islet of Imia in the Aegean Sea. Treaties and maps showed that this islet was Greek. However, Turkey’s strategic position outweighed Greece’s territorial rights in the eyes of the foreign policy established and Greece was forced to stand down against Turkish aggression. In August 1996, Cypriot protesters Tasos Isaac and Solomos Solomou were murdered in cold blood by Turkish occupation forces and no effort was ever made to bring their murderers to trial.
Like Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, Barack Obama made promises to the Greeks. In early 2009, Obama travelled to Turkey and met with Patriarch Bartholomew but he met with the Patriarch in a hotel room away from media. Furthermore, Obama insulted Greece by comparing the treatment of Greek Christians in Turkey with the Muslims of west Thrace who are prospering. Then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton insulted Greece by saying the same thing to Archbishop Demetrios of America.
Returning to Clinton’s recognition of Skopje with the name of Macedonia. Greek interests were subordinated to the perceived greater interests of the Balkans at that particular time. The Clinton administration was intent on supporting Croatia and Bosnia against Serbia. The anti-Serbian foreign policy meant a pro Turkish foreign policy as Ankara was supporting Bosnia and shared the Clinton administrations foreign policy.
Therefore, Greek interests over the name of Macedonia were not considered important. In addition, Serbia was Greece’s closest ally in the region having fought with the Greeks in the Balkan Wars and both World Wars. The Clinton administration wanted Greece to be anti Serbian and was not interested in hearing about Turkey. Sound familiar?
The anti Russian hysteria today is similar to the anti Serbian hysteria of the 1990’s. Joe Biden has always been and remains a supporter of the foreign policy establishment because he follows what others tell him unlike Donald Trump who formulated his own foreign policy. Biden was a supporter of going to war with Serbia during the 1990’s, supported the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and is a supporter of provoking tensions with Russia.
Biden is considered an expert on foreign policy and once sat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Despite this, he is not a foreign policy expert. He is a politician with no historical knowledge or understanding of other countries. In this, he shares the ignorance and lack of sophistication of George W. Bush.
The American foreign policy establishment with the full support of the Democratic Party, the dominant left wing media, and others is fully intent on pursuing an anti Russian foreign policy. The problems that Greece and Cyprus face from an aggressive Turkey will be subordinated to the Biden administration’s anti Russian policies.
The intervention of the State Department in Church affairs in Ukraine is an example of what is ahead for Greece. Greece and Cyprus are intended to be on board for Washington’s anti Russian agenda. As with with the case of Serbia during the 1990’s, Turkey is going to be considered an ally against the Russians.
Historically, Turkey has always been a beneficiary of anti Russian hysteria. This can be seen by the outbreak of anti Russian hysteria in Great Britain at the outbreak of the Crimean War in 1853 in which the British and French backed the Ottoman Empire over Russia. During the Cold War, Turkey was considered an important ally against the Soviet Union and so in all likelihood the Biden administration will at least attempt to improve relations with Turkey in pursuit of an anti Russian coalition.
Whether the Erdogan government is willing to change its foreign policy to take part in such a coalition is uncertain. Perhaps the Erdogan government will refuse which will be a good thing for Greece and Cyprus. However, in the short term it can be reasonably asserted that Joe Biden is no friend of Greece.
Based on the present set of facts that we have before us and following historical precedents there is no reason for Greeks to put any trust in Joe Biden. Greeks have the terrible tendency of listening to rhetoric and ignoring and forgetting actual facts.
4 replies on “Biden and Greece”
‘Greeks have the terrible tendency of listening to rhetoric and ignoring and forgetting actual facts.’
Exactly. Show up at a Greek Church festival, eat a gyros sandwich and stumble through a Syrtaki and the Greek-American voters fall for you hook, line and sinker. It embarrasses me to say it, but next to African Americans, Greek Americans are the most easy ‘marks’ for the Democrat Party. 60% of Greek American voters pull the lever for the Democrat Party every 4 years, reliably and stupidly. Never mind that party has done next to nothing for Hellenic issues in many, many Administrations.
In politics you get what you deserve and Hellenic Issues are going to take a backseat for another 4 years, while Greek American voters keep on drinking the Democrat koolaid. This is why I stopped donating to Greek-American issues organizations, because they do nothing to promote our issues to the main parties. It’s never going to change, sadly.
I was writing letters to the editor of Greek American publications back in 1996 pointing out how Clinton failed to support Greece during his first term. I pointed out then that Bob Dole was a better candidate because of his support for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide. Dole was hated by the Turks because of his long standing ties to the Armenian community. I believe Dole would have challenged the Turks. The Greeks blew it big time there.
I don’t want to say that Repubs are without question superior to Dems on the Hellenic Issues. George W. Bush was no better than Clinton or Obama. I doubt John McCain would have been any better, he was an unrepentant NEOCON. Romney lacked the gumption to take any strong stands, he was another status quo person. But Dole was genuine and Trump-for all his faults-appointed the best SOS regarding near-East issues in a long time, Mike Pompeo. And I recognize that with respect to the Orthodox Church Pompeo has interfered shamelessly in Church matters. But Orthodoxy aside, on regional issues regarding Turkey and Greece/Cyprus, Pompeo has been very fair. That will change now and probably for the worse.
The neocons who are unprincipled and seek only power will be getting prominent positions in the Biden administration. I suspect they will try to restore policies as they were before Trump got elected. They will probably try to restore support for Turkey although I think Erdogan may blow them off.