Middle East and North Africa

Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Situation Report, where we are beginning to feel a sense of creeping sadness over the impending conclusion of the World Cup on Sunday.

Anyway, here’s what’s on tap for the day: the cognitive dissonance of America First, the Iran war resumes with possible Houthi involvement, and two new Biden books.

Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Situation Report, where we are beginning to feel a sense of creeping sadness over the impending conclusion of the World Cup on Sunday.

Anyway, here’s what’s on tap for the day: the cognitive dissonance of America First, the Iran war resumes with possible Houthi involvement, and two new Biden books.

The America First Contradiction

The Trump administration has spent almost two years bashing allies for not spending enough on defense and pressuring countries to take more responsibility for their own security as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First philosophy. And, naturally, as allies become more self-reliant, it’s inevitable that the United States will have less influence over their politics.

But the Trump administration still wants it both ways: a world in which Washington continues calling the shots despite less commitment and involvement from the United States.

‘Common cause.’ The cognitive dissonance of this approach was on full display this week as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio outlined why the administration is pushing for the dismantling of the International Criminal Court (ICC). “Using all the tools at our government’s disposal, working beside every ally with whom we can make common cause, we will dismantle the ICC—brick by brick, if necessary,” Rubio wrote in the Wall Street Journal on Monday. Separately, a U.S. official told CNN that nations that “refuse to reject the ICC’s false authority while relying on U.S. assistance are likely to come under increased scrutiny.”

In short, the Trump administration is seemingly planning to hold U.S. assistance over the heads of the 125 countries that are party to the ICC to pressure them into moving against the body.

The campaign against the ICC ties into Trump’s more general disdain for the rule of law and lack of respect for international law, but it also highlights how the administration hopes to continue using U.S. influence around the world to squeeze countries into complying with its goals. But it’s difficult to exploit such leverage when you also push for countries to be less dependent on the United States and alienate them by slashing security assistance programs or threatening to withdraw troops—on top of a constant stream of insults and erratic........

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