Commentary: The US ‘rules-based order’ has been shattered in Gaza

Every U.S. president comes into office with big dreams, only to be bludgeoned by the realities of international politics.

At the end of the day, presidents are forced to prioritize goals, restrain ambitions and seek a framework that helps them organize their foreign policy. George W. Bush, for instance, stuck with his global war on terrorism mindset. Barack Obama’s approach was crafted in part to keep the United States from repeating the mistakes of the Bush years. Donald Trump’s “America First” weighed heavily on transactional dealings.

President Joe Biden’s organizing principle could best be summarized as articulates, “We will partner with any nation that shares our basic belief that the rules-based order must remain the foundation for global peace and prosperity.”