Storella Interviewed on Brazilian TV on Middle East Conflict
Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy Ambassador Mark C. Storella shared his thoughts on the limited sway of global powers in the current Middle East crisis during an interview with TV Globo, Latin America’s largest news broadcaster, on October 1, 2024. Speaking to a Brazilian audience, Ambassador Storella discussed the factors shaping the conflict and how major international players are engaging with it.
Ambassador Storella explained that although the United States is Israel’s closest ally, its ability to influence Israeli actions has its limits. He remarked that the brutal nature of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack has garnered substantial sympathy for Israel, making it harder for the U.S. to oppose Israel’s strategy in the war. Storella also pointed out that Israel has grown more independent, stating, “Israel is a nuclear power and a key arms exporter. It doesn’t rely on the United States as much as it once did.”
He also commented on the involvement of other global powers. Russia, focused on its war in Ukraine, has strengthened its partnership with Iran. China, meanwhile, remains primarily concerned with securing access to the region’s energy resources. “China’s role in the Middle East is minimal,” Storella said. “Their main interest is safeguarding energy supplies, which places them in line with U.S. objectives in this context.”
Storella’s remarks highlight how power dynamics in the Middle East are shifting and how global players’ interests intersect in complex ways. He stressed that traditional expectations about superpower influence may no longer apply to this situation, which calls for a broader understanding.
The interview was part of a larger report on the worsening Middle East conflict and its global impact. Former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen, Gerald Feierstein, also contributed his insights, addressing the diplomatic challenges facing international efforts.
The full TV Globo report (broadcast in Portuguese) can be seen at: “Escalation of Middle East crisis is a test of influence of superpowers US, Russia and China”
Ambassador Mark C. Storella was a United States Foreign Service Officer for over three decades serving as Ambassador to Zambia, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, and Dean of the Leadership and Management School of the Foreign Service Institute. Storella is a recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Excellence in Service Award, the Thomas Jefferson Award presented by American Citizens Abroad, and several Department of State superior and meritorious honor awards. Learn more about Ambassador Storella on his faculty profile.