James Denseiow

Comfortably ahead in the polls with the election some four months away, it’s time to start imagining what a Biden Administration’s approach to the Middle East will be. A one-term President is a rare beast in US politics, yet Trump has already had a seismic impact on the DNA of the country, whether in the form of the record number of judges he has appointed or the seeming never ending list of organisations and treaties that he has withdrawn from.

Trump was no continuity President and we can expect that Biden would be attempting a serious course correction back to pursuing a more traditional set of US policies and priorities. New US Presidents from different political Parties understandably try to define themselves as a break from their predecessor. President Obama, for example, set off on what was called a ‘global apology tour’ following the more bullish and unilateral era of the Bush Administration.

Biden would have his work cut out trying to rebuild what Trump has destroyed and the world isn’t exactly without crisis. A rampaging COVID pandemic, a more Hawkish China, an activist Russia, a fractured Europe and a Middle East beset by conflict are just some of the priority items that will be in the Biden Presidential inbox.

Trump’s Syria approach has been characteristically erratic. Unlike Obama he was anxious for his ‘red lines’ to be sharper and unleashed a fusillade of cruise missiles against Assad’s military machine following an alleged chemical weapons attack. Trump has escalated Obama’s fight against ISIS and was in charge when the Caliphate fell apart, putting US boots on the ground to support the SDF and secure the east side of the Euphrates.

However, Trump’s allergy towards spending US blood and treasure on sustained presence abroad saw him announce US withdrawals from Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Whilst these have not fully materialised, their sudden surprise announcement, seemingly without consulting allies has meant that the US can no longer be said to be a trusted and predictable ally. Indeed, at the time Biden has previously described Trump’s decision to withdraw US troops from Syria as a “complete failure” that gutted American credibility around the world.

Biden, then a potential Democratic nominee slated the President for “demolishing the moral authority of the United States of America” while emboldening U.S. adversaries, including Russia and Iran. Biden went onto say something that could be an important signpost of the values that his administration will stay true to; “we can be strong and smart at the same time.”

A ‘strong and smart’ US approach to Syria could mean finally that a longer-term vision of what the White House sees as the future of the country as looking like. Will Biden seek Regime change or at least a change in President? Will Biden accept a de facto partition of the country with a Kurdish controlled Northeast and a Rebel controlled Northwest? Will Biden support or push back on Israel’s continued shadow war against the Iranian and Hezbollah presence in the country? What is Biden’s view as to how ISIS can be prevented from becoming resurgent?

US policy towards Syria over the course of the Civil War has either been prioritising rhetoric over real action (Obama) or unpredictably reactive (Trump) This has allowed countries like Iran and Russia the space to pursue a far more consistent and from their perspective effective, strategy of preserving Assad’s rule in the country.

Biden’s team developing clear answers to these questions, or at least a roadmap as to how they will be answered will be infinitely bolstered by a more multilateralist approach to the strategy once agreed. Having the US and the EU at crossed or divergent purposes towards Syria and its region again causes a confusion and inconsistency that their adversaries will continue to exploit.

A renewed mandate to NATO and to US-EU relations with Syria as a priority can give a clear sense of direction of travel or ‘command prerogative’ that can be translated by the multitude of institutions that sit below them.

My hypothesis is that whilst Trump surrendered the hardest questions over Syria policy to the Russians, a Biden Administration would look to be far more assertive and contest Russian hegemony and unchecked influence over the country. This will metastasise certain tensions currently in play in the country in a more unpredictable manner. Already we see regular clips on social media of Russian and American patrols play rough and ready on Syria’s roads. Heightened geopolitical rivalry combined with ‘accidents’ happening at a local level could be an early test of Biden’s ability to press restart on America’s Syria policy.

by : jamse danselow

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has announced its sponsorship of the “Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition (GU - IST Solutions), hosted by Gulf University at its main campus.
This strategic sponsorship reflects BENEFIT’s active role in advancing technological innovation and fostering sustainable solutions to future challenges. It also seeks to empower Bahraini youth by enhancing their skills, capabilities, and competitiveness in innovation and solution development—contributing meaningfully to the broader goals of sustainable development across all sectors.
As part of BENEFIT’s active involvement in the competition, the company has announced that Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication, will serve on the competition’s supervisory committee. Her upcoming participation reflects BENEFIT’s forward-looking commitment to championing academic and professional excellence.
Commenting on the occasion, Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communication at BENEFIT, said, “We are privileged to support this pioneering initiative, which aligns seamlessly with BENEFIT’s enduring commitment to fostering innovation and nurturing the potential of Bahrain’s youth. Our participation is rooted in a deep sense of social responsibility and a firm belief in the pivotal role of innovation in shaping a sustainable future. Through such platforms, we seek to empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and foresight required to develop impactful solutions that address future challenges, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030.”
Dr. Aseel Al Ayash Dean of the College of Engineering in Gulf University commented, “We extend our sincere gratitude to BENEFIT for their generous sponsorship and support of the Innovation and Sustainable Technology Solutions Competition. This contribution plays an instrumental role in helping us achieve the strategic goals of this initiative, namely, cultivating a culture of innovation and sustainability, encouraging efforts that address the imperatives of sustainable development, and enhancing the practical and professional capabilities of our students and participants.”
The event will bring together a diverse spectrum of participants, including secondary school students, university undergraduates, engineers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs, academic researchers, and subject matter experts representing a wide range of disciplines.
The competition seeks to inspire participants to develop and present innovative, sustainable technologies aimed at addressing pressing environmental, social, and economic challenges. It encourages the formulation of business models that integrate advanced technological solutions with core principles of sustainability. Moreover, it serves as a platform for emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to contribute to the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals, promote the ethos of responsible technology, and demonstrate its transformative potential across various sectors.
Attendees will have the opportunity to view a series of project presentations submitted by participants, covering diverse areas such as eco-friendly product design, smart and sustainable innovations, renewable energy technologies, water conservation and management, waste minimisation and recycling, green architectural solutions, and sustainable transportation systems. Outstanding projects will be formally recognised and awarded at the conclusion of the event.