Persuading the Republican leader to support Ukraine required months of work, and the change may not last long, writes ‘s U.S. correspondent Iida Tikka.
Iida TikkaYhdysvaltain correspondent
WASHINGTON. The support for Ukraine has been twisted in Congress for so long that Saturday’s uncomplicated vote was somehow startling.
The huge, more than 60 billion support package for Ukraine was approved in the House of Representatives’ vote with a light vote of 311-112.
Before the approval of this aid package, the United States has supported Ukraine with a total of about 74 billion dollars, so the package is already significant due to its size alone. In addition, it enables the deployment of ATACMS missile systems to Ukraine.
Most Republicans remained opposed to the aid package. It didn’t hurt, because enough Republicans voted for the package along with the Democrats.
This would have been possible any time long ago if the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson would have decided so.
Intelligence turned heads
For months, Johnson has been the clearest obstacle to the progress of the aid package for Ukraine.
Before this week, Johnson had never suggested that the House of Representatives could vote on the package in a situation where the success of the vote would depend on cooperation with the Democrats.
The position was certainly influenced by the fact that Johnson’s predecessor Kevin McCarthy forced aside by a compromise with the Democrats.
On the other hand, Johnson himself was among the critics of support for Ukraine. The mind changed only in the last few weeks, as a result of long and thorough lobbying.
In the end, Johnson was convinced by intelligence about how badly Ukraine needs support, and how big a threat Russia is to America’s NATO partners.
In addition, Johnson’s own son began his career in the US Navy. Johnson mentioned at his press conference on Wednesdaythat it is easier to send weapons to Ukraine than American soldiers.
– The United States is the best country in the world. We therefore have a special kind of responsibility. A responsibility we shouldered after World War II, Johnson stated.
Isolation is gaining popularity
Despite Johnson’s solemn statement and the consensus found by the parties, one thing remains true: withdrawal from the world stage is an increasingly popular idea among US voters.
Many Republicans and Democrats both agree, albeit for different reasons.
On Saturday, the House of Representatives also voted on a new aid package for Israel, and some Democrats voted against it. Outside the congress, a group of protesters chanted slogans such as “US out of the Middle East” and “money for jobs and education” in protest of arming Israel.
The right-wing, on the other hand, accepts Israel’s support, but would like the money to be directed to the southern border or veterans’ services instead of supporting Ukraine.
Johnson tried to justify supporting Ukraine by saying that this type of action would also have been idealized by modern Republicans Ronald Reagan to politics; stability through strength.
The slogan doesn’t sink in for everyone, maybe because many people don’t think their country is very powerful right now. More and more Americans believe The US will only get weaker in the future.
In an uncertain state of mind, curling up inward seems like a logical option. Europe can lobby really well if it wants to keep the United States as the guarantor of the continent’s security in the long term.