US Studies Centre's Foreign Policy and Defence research fellow Tom Corben talks about how if the Republicans win the House — as they appear on track to, with a very slim majority — that may hobble Biden on some important Indo-Pacific issues.
“From where I sit, the drag that narrow margins of control have had on the speed of defence and foreign policy legislating isn’t likely to change with this new Congress. Deadlock on domestic issues and political incentives to slow-roll legislative processes between now and early next year are likely to result in delays to key authorisations and appropriations, which probably means more Continuing Resolutions and slower-than-needed movement on urgent defense priorities in the Indo-Pacific. This isn’t new: it’s a trend that America’s allies and partners in Asia have watched with growing concern for some years,” Tom quotes.