THE Democratic Party’s sweeping victory in the November 3rd US midterm elections, securing control of both the Houses of Representatives and the Senate, has fundamentally altered the political landscape in Washington. For President Donald Trump, the results represent a major setback halfway through his second term. For the rest of the world, they raise questions about the direction and durability of American foreign policy.

The results reflect voter dissatisfaction with rising living costs, economic uncertainty, tariffs and the administration’s handling of the war with Iran. Democrats will now have greater powers of congressional oversight, influence over budgetary decisions and control over legislative proceedings. They can scrutinize the Administration’s foreign policy and exercise greater influence over presidential nominations. Although Trump retains considerable executive authority over foreign affairs, his ability to pursue an unchallenged legislative agenda has diminished.

For Islamabad, the immediate question is whether this political setback will affect Pakistan’s recently improved relationship with Washington and how skillfully it can navigate the political turbulence in the United States. Over recent years, Pakistan has invested considerable diplomatic capital in cultivating ties with the Trump Administration. High-level engagements, improved political access and cooperation on regional issues have given Islamabad greater visibility in Washington. There have also been discussions on trade, investment, minerals and economic cooperation.

Yet diplomatic visibility is only one part of the equation. The American political system is larger than the presidency and relationships built too closely around individual leaders remain vulnerable to political transitions and changing geopolitical interests. The Democratic victory does not mean that Trump has lost control of American foreign policy, nor does it suggest that Washington will immediately abandon its existing strategic priorities. Nevertheless, the new Congressional balance creates a more complicated environment for the Administration and, by extension, for countries that have closely associated themselves with its policies.

Pakistan’s first priority should, therefore, be to avoid interpreting the results through a partisan lens. Islamabad should neither distance itself from the Trump Administration nor assume that Democratic control of Congress will automatically........

© Pakistan Observer