US aid bill's passage shows foreign policy fault lines

Significance

The Biden administration originally introduced the package in October, and its subsequent convoluted, and often stalled, passage through Congress demonstrates a range of complex partisan divisions over foreign policy. Ukraine will now receive much-needed ammunition and other support to reinvigorate its resistance to Russia’s invasion.

Impacts

• Democrats will protect the House speaker, a Republican, from efforts by far-right Republicans to unseat him for passing the aid package.
• China will recognise the strong bipartisan support for Taiwan funding and the accompanying measures to curtail TikTok’s US operations.
• Questions over the merits of support for Ukraine and Israel will continue to occupy both parties during the election campaign.