The End of Carter’s Era
The End of Carter’s Era
Jimmy Carter, Mediator in Troubled Times
The 39th President of the United States passed away at the age of 100. His presidency, filled with diplomatic successes yet tensions, influenced U.S. foreign policy.
A peacemaker but with a period full of numerous crises, Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, leaving behind a complex yet meaningful legacy in U.S. history and foreign policy. Born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, Carter was the 39th President of the United States, serving only one term from 1977 to 1981.
His presidency is remembered for his determination to promote human rights and peace globally, despite difficult international circumstances such as the Cold War and various domestic crises. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, recognizing his commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and fighting diseases and poverty through the Carter Center. However, during his presidency, he faced challenges that weakened his popularity, such as the energy crisis, economic recession, and the American hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.
In foreign policy, Carter made his most significant impact with the Camp David Accords in 1978, which led to peace between Israel and Egypt. This patient diplomacy, based on mediation and dialogue, defined his approach to international affairs, even if the results were not always appreciated by his contemporaries.
The Man Who Changed the Middle East
In the Middle East, Carter stood out for his commitment to resolving conflicts through diplomacy and avoiding the use of force. The Camp David Accords are one of the most enduring successes of his presidency. After 13 days of secret negotiations at the presidential retreat in Camp David, Carter succeeded in convincing Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to sign a peace treaty that ended several decades of hostility between the two countries, which had been openly engaged in the Six-Day War of 1967 and the Yom Kippur War of 1973.
This agreement laid the groundwork for future peace negotiations in the Middle East but also initiated a process that remains perhaps the main limitation of U.S. policy in the region: pressuring Israel to negotiate with Arab countries instead of negotiating with the Palestinians. Carter’s presidency was then undeniably affected by tensions with Iran, culminating in the 1979 revolution that led to the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who had previously been supported by the U.S. The seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and the hostage-taking of 52 American citizens had a profound impact on Carter’s presidency, and his inability to swiftly resolve the crisis led to his electoral defeat in 1980 by Ronald Reagan.
Opening with Moscow
In relations with Europe and NATO, Carter sought to strengthen the transatlantic alliance, although he had disagreements with some European allies. During his presidency, the Cold War reached new levels of tension, especially after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. In response, Carter proposed the boycott of the 1980 Moscow Olympics and bolstered the U.S. military presence in Europe, also emphasizing NATO’s importance as the cornerstone of Western defense.
Nevertheless, Carter also supported dialogue with the Soviet Union, as evidenced by the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II) for nuclear arms control. Although this treaty was never formally ratified, it was a step forward in efforts to reduce the arms race and prevent the escalation of nuclear tensions.
Carter strongly believed that global security could be achieved not only through rearmament but also through international cooperation and gradual disarmament. This perspective led him into conflict with the most conservative sectors of U.S. policy, who, contrary to him, viewed military force as the primary guarantee of security against the Soviet threat.
Central Asia in Focus
In the Indo-Pacific region, Carter inherited the policy of opening up to China, initiated by Richard Nixon and most notably by the American diplomatic masterstroke of Henry Kissinger. Carter sought to solidify diplomatic relations with Beijing. In 1979, he announced the formal recognition of the People’s Republic of China and cut official ties with Taiwan. This move was seen as a strategic step to contain Soviet influence in Asia and strengthen economic relations with the rising power of China.
However, Carter had to balance this rapprochement by maintaining a strong commitment to the Pacific region, strengthening alliances with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines. His administration also worked to ensure stability in Southeast Asia by supporting peace processes in Vietnam and Cambodia, despite the deep wounds left on U.S. foreign policy by the end of the Vietnam War.
Carter viewed the Indo-Pacific as a vital region for the future of the United States, promoting economic cooperation and development policies instead of military intervention. This vision helped lay the foundations for expanding American influence in the region in subsequent years, culminating in the so-called Pivot to Asia, which remains indicative of the United States’ long-term strategic line.
Carter’s presidency is often unfairly labeled as a failure, but there were significant outcomes. In some areas, particularly in environmental issues, Carter’s policies were forward-thinking and even courageous. Before the Camp David Accords in 1977, Carter signed an agreement to return the Panama Canal’s sovereignty to Panama, a canal seen as a symbol of U.S. imperial privileges in Central America. In the years following his presidency, Carter increasingly took clear stances against extremism and unilateralism in U.S. foreign policy. For example, he strongly condemned the intervention in Iraq in 2003, the tools used in the war on terror during George W. Bush’s era, including Guantanamo Bay prison, and the use of drones in targeted killings by the Obama administration.
