US midterms may have limited foreign policy impact

Significance

While domestic issues have dominated campaigning for next month’s midterm elections, the new Congress they produce will help to shape US responses to several urgent foreign policy issues including the war in Ukraine and tensions over Taiwan.

Impacts

• Donald Trump’s continued prominence suggests Republicans in Congress will tilt towards his ‘America First’ foreign policy stance.
• If Republicans win both houses of Congress, their foreign policy stance will be designed to help win the White House in 2024.
• The United States may lose some credibility with Western allies if a significant number of far-right candidates are elected.
• Biden is likely to extend his use of executive orders in conducting foreign policy to lessen the impact of gridlock in Washington.