Historically, the pretense for multiple wars has been the line that the country or countries waging the wars or participating in them were defending "democracy," "freedom," etc. A notable recent example of this was the Iraq War, where the US claimed to support democracy but left the country in a state of deterioration and ruin. It is an inconsistency also underlined by the historical support from the US for dictatorial regimes that have served its interests, such as those in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
This trend is further evinced by Biden's recent visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with Mohammed bin Salman despite vowing to make him a "pariah." It was only when Saudi Arabia joined other OPEC members in raising oil prices by cutting production that Biden threatened "consequences." As usual, geopolitical interests, not democracy, dictated American foreign policy.
Why, then, is the US continually citing "democracy" as a reason for its opposition to China's designs on Taiwan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine? If that were the primary concern of the US, I don't think we would see it supporting dictatorial regimes as it has repeatedly done and still does. It seems to me that this proclaimed support for democracy is either selective and inconsistent or simply a PR-friendly image for furthering geopolitical interests.
What are your thoughts? Does the US consistently support democracy in other countries or not?
This trend is further evinced by Biden's recent visit to Saudi Arabia and his meeting with Mohammed bin Salman despite vowing to make him a "pariah." It was only when Saudi Arabia joined other OPEC members in raising oil prices by cutting production that Biden threatened "consequences." As usual, geopolitical interests, not democracy, dictated American foreign policy.
Why, then, is the US continually citing "democracy" as a reason for its opposition to China's designs on Taiwan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine? If that were the primary concern of the US, I don't think we would see it supporting dictatorial regimes as it has repeatedly done and still does. It seems to me that this proclaimed support for democracy is either selective and inconsistent or simply a PR-friendly image for furthering geopolitical interests.
What are your thoughts? Does the US consistently support democracy in other countries or not?