Free Trial

Menendez Scandal Could Shakeup US Foreign Policy In Middle East

US

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday offered a hawkish defence to his federal indictment on corruption charges and pledged to remain in office and fight for re-election in 2024.

  • Menendez said at a press conference: “...not only will I be exonerated, but I will still be New Jersey’s senior senator.”
  • Most Democrats have so-far been reluctant to publicly condemn Menendez but he has been removed from his role as chair of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee. A shakeup which could impact on the direction of US foreign policy. Menendez has taken a hardline on Iran and Turkey, persistently opposing a White House plan to sell and upgrade Turkey's F-16 fleet and threatening to withhold Congressional approval for a new nuclear deal with Iran. Both positions which have complicated the Biden administration’s Middle East strategy.
  • If the next chair of the committee takes a more dovish position on these issues it could speed up Sweden’s NATO membership bid by unlocking the Turkish F16 deal and open the door forfresh talks with Iran.
  • More analysis of the political implications of the Menendez indictment in today's MNI US Daily Brief.

To read the full story

Close

Why MNI

MNI is the leading provider

of intelligence and analysis on the Global Fixed Income, Foreign Exchange and Energy markets. We use an innovative combination of real-time analysis, deep fundamental research and journalism to provide unique and actionable insights for traders and investors. Our "All signal, no noise" approach drives an intelligence service that is succinct and timely, which is highly regarded by our time constrained client base.

Our Head Office is in London with offices in Chicago, Washington and Beijing, as well as an on the ground presence in other major financial centres across the world.