Do Nations Have Loyal Friendships, or Only Interests?
It is often said that nations do not have friends among the nations—only interests that sometimes align with other nations. This is sometimes contradicted by talk of the friendship of free nations, especially with the United Kingdom, where a common heritage is professed, or France, with its history of democratic freedom. The idea that there are no real loyal friendships among nations is captured in the concept of Realpolitik, described as: “A political approach based on practical, tangible factors rather than moral, ethical, or ideological ideals. Prioritizing power, national interest, and ‘the art of the possible,’ it often involves pragmatic compromises and can sometimes be viewed as ruthless or Machiavellian.”
I believe the United States and Israel sometimes practice Realpolitik and sometimes act out of moral alignment and shared heritage. Sometimes the choice of Realpolitik ends up being destructive to our nations (Israel and the U.S.) and also causes great pain to those betrayed. I will give examples.
The Bible and Relationships Between Nations
I argue that the Bible requires an uncompromising moral approach to foreign relations, and that practicing Realpolitik causes the loss of God’s favor. This is proven by God’s judgment on nations that do evil. (I speak of nations here in a much broader and more ancient sense than the modern nation-state idea.) All nations are called to submit to God and his law. The early chapters of Amos declare judgments on the nations for their many sins. Ezekiel 26 likewise declares judgment on the nations for their treatment of Israel. Standing for righteousness in relations between nations is a biblical standard. The Bible teaches that all nations have sufficient knowledge of basic law to be judged by it. This means acting with integrity and loyalty and not compromising with evil nations, though one may use diplomacy to mitigate danger. A nation that acknowledges God’s law and implements it is a righteous nation; one that does not is unrighteous. This includes how a nation treats its own people and how it treats other nations. Israel itself was not to seek to conquer and dominate other nations (Deut. 4).
Where Should Loyalty and Support Be Offered?
For Israel and the United States, priority loyalty and support should go to nations that, in their values, actually affirm the values of the Declaration of Independence: that all men are created equal and are endowed with the inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (my paraphrase). George W. Bush argued for supporting free societies with such values, because they live in peace and do not seek to dominate or control other nations. Promoting free societies, and helping other societies become free, was central to this vision. Sadly, in Iraq he did not always act wisely toward that goal—he was unwise to think the Iraqis could sustain a true free society—but it was the right goal. This is a very different orientation from the isolationism of some America-first MAGA voices. It fits instead the robust internationalism of Ronald Reagan.
The separation of church and state does not mean separating the state from biblical values, or denying the religious sphere’s role in influencing the state toward righteousness. The state should acknowledge God and his law, which is clearly the standard of the Bible.
As I evaluate the history of betrayals and compromises with evil made in the name of Realpolitik, I conclude that over the long haul it has not worked out well. (I understand we are sometimes forced to deal with authoritarian states while still seeking to advance human rights.) Here are examples of Realpolitik betrayals undertaken for the supposed good of our nations (Israel and the United States) that, in the long run, did not end well:
- Churchill, Stalin, Roosevelt, Truman, and the betrayal of Eastern Europe. Churchill argued that Stalin would not keep his word on free elections in Eastern Europe, and wanted to keep troops there to prevent it from falling under tyranny. He lost the argument with Roosevelt and Truman. Eastern Europe was betrayed, leading to the terrible cost and pain of the Cold War for the next 45 years. A Realpolitik disaster.
- General Douglas MacArthur argued the U.S. should invade North Korea, overthrow the Chinese communists, and back the Nationalist Chinese under Chiang Kai-shek. He was overruled and fired. We betrayed our Chinese allies and the North Korean people. How has that worked out?
- Cuba and the Bay of Pigs. Kennedy rightly wanted to overthrow the communists in Cuba, recognizing that the Monroe Doctrine should be enforced—no foreign-dominated power in our hemisphere. But when the Bay of Pigs invasion failed, he pulled back instead of going all in. The Cuban people were betrayed. How has that worked out? We are still fighting this battle today.
- Iran and the Shah. The Shah had human rights violations but was moving his nation toward more Western values and was friendly to Israel. Under Carter, the U.S. abandoned him and allowed Iran to fall under the tyranny of the Ayatollah. Our embassy was seized and its staff imprisoned. Now, 47 years later, we are at war, facing the danger of a future nuclear bomb and terrible proxies in Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq, and Yemen. How has that worked out?
- Reagan and Lebanon. In October 1983, Ronald Reagan had Marines in Lebanon to protect the Lebanese from radical Islam and civil war. Hezbollah bombed the Marine barracks, killing 241 Marines. Reagan responded with some bombing, then pulled out. Lebanon was created as a refuge for Arab Christians, but afterward they were in peril, and more civil war followed. Leaders were assassinated by Hezbollah. Today we are at war, and Christians are a minority. How has this worked out?
- Israel and the South Lebanon Army. South Lebanon, below the Litani River, was populated by Christians. Israel maintained a military presence and supported them. A few soldiers died each year, and by May 2000 it was too much for Israel, which withdrew. The South Lebanon Army allies were abandoned, betrayed, and forced to flee. Lebanon is no longer majority Christian. Hezbollah, as I anticipated, moved south and filled the vacuum—South Lebanon became Shiite Muslim instead of Christian. Now we are at war with Hezbollah, and Lebanon is too weak to control them. Withdrawing was an act of Realpolitik. How has that worked out? Israel has retaken control of South Lebanon, but more lives have been lost in this latest war.
- Israel, Bethlehem, and the PLO. In the Oslo Accords, Israel compromised with the PLO and Arafat, the terrorist intifada leader. Bethlehem was then 85% Christian and friendly to Israel—I visited, and it was a wonderful place. It is hard to recognize the city today. The few remaining Christians are pro-Palestinian and pro-Muslim, a kind of Stockholm syndrome, identifying with their oppressors. Talk to those who fled to Brazil and you’ll get the real truth. We betrayed the Christian city of Bethlehem.
- Compromise with Qatar. Why do the United States and Israel maintain positive relations with Qatar? Is it to keep an enemy closer? Qatar is aligned with Hamas, whose leaders live there in luxury, and with the Muslim Brotherhood. It has done more to spread anti-Israel propaganda and anti-U.S. radicalism on American campuses and social media than any other nation, spending untold billions on it—one key reason for the present turn of world opinion against Israel. Yet the U.S. and President Trump turn a blind eye, and so does Israel. Realpolitik again. How will this work out?
- Turkey and compromise. President Trump says he gets along well with Erdogan and calls him a great leader. He is a tyrant who jails his opponents, shuts down the free press, imprisons journalists, and oppresses Christians. He is allied with the Muslim Brotherhood/Hamas and supports tyranny abroad. Keeping enemies closer, again? One of his ministers has spoken of conquering Israel and reestablishing the Turkish Empire. Turkey remains in NATO. Erdogan opposes greater freedom for Kurds throughout the region. I predict this will not work out well. We should have supported the democratic opposition seeking to overthrow him, and he should not be in NATO.
- The betrayal of the Kurds. Related to #9: the Kurds have sought their own nation for most of the last hundred years and have been betrayed. When European powers drew the borders of the Middle East, the Kurds—whose connected lands were divided among Turkey, Syria, Iran, and Iraq—were denied a nation of their own. They have been oppressed, especially by Turkey, yet they were America’s key ally against ISIS and still guard the prison holding its fighters in Syria. Now they have been abandoned by the U.S. Israel had planned to arm groups in Iran to help overthrow its radical government; the U.S. nixed that plan under pressure from Erdogan. The Kurds hope for more freedom under Syria’s new government. Will God someday judge the U.S. for its Realpolitik betrayal of its Kurdish allies?
- Betraying our Afghan allies. The U.S. abandoned its Afghan allies and turned the country over to the Taliban. Women who had been liberated and educated were abandoned, forced back into oppression and covered head to toe. We abandoned Afghans who fought for freedom.
Realpolitik has made the United States an untrustworthy ally. Does God see? Will he judge these betrayals? It is striking how loyal radical Muslims are to one another, and how loyal communists are to one another. Should not people of freedom be loyal to one another too, rejecting short-term gain in favor of principle?
The rule should be that those who pursue human rights and dignity will find a loyal friend in the United States. The more you share our values of freedom and human dignity, the more we will support you.