End of Carter’s Presidency

End of Carter’s presidency

End of Carter’s presidency

Jimmy Carter, a mediator in difficult times

The 39th President of the United States passed away at the age of 100. His presidency, filled with diplomatic successes and tensions, influenced America’s foreign policy.

A peacemaker, Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100, leaving behind a complex yet meaningful legacy in American 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 commitment to promoting human rights and peace worldwide, despite challenging international conditions such as the Cold War and various domestic crises. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his dedication to peaceful conflict resolution and his fight against 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 Iranian hostage crisis in 1979.

In foreign policy, Carter had the most impact with the Camp David Accords in 1978, which led to peace between Israel and Egypt. His patient diplomacy based on mediation and dialogue defined his approach to international affairs, even if his 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 at Camp David, Carter managed to persuade Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin to sign a peace treaty that ended decades of enmity between the two countries, which had been openly engaged in the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

This agreement laid the groundwork for future peace negotiations in the Middle East, but it also initiated a process that arguably remains a key constraint on US policy in the region: pressuring Israel to negotiate with Arab countries instead of Palestinians. President Carter was then undeniably influenced by tensions with Iran, which peaked in the 1979 revolution that led to the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who incidentally had been a US ally in the past. The seizure of the US embassy in Tehran and the taking of 52 American citizens as hostages had a profound impact on Carter’s presidency, and his inability to quickly resolve the crisis led to his electoral defeat in 1980 by Ronald Reagan.

Opening up to Moscow

In his relations with Europe and NATO, Carter sought to strengthen the transatlantic alliance, although he had disagreements with some of his 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 boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics and strengthened America’s military presence in Europe. He also emphasized the importance of NATO as a pillar of Western defense.

However, Carter also supported dialogue with the Soviet Union, as evidenced by the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty II (SALT II) for controlling nuclear weapons. Although the treaty was never formally ratified, it was a step forward in efforts to reduce arms competition and prevent 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 to conflict with the most conservative elements of US politics, who saw military force as the primary guarantee of security against Soviet threats.

Central Asia in the spotlight.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Carter continued the policy of opening up to China, which was initiated by Richard Nixon and, most notably, by the diplomatic masterpiece of Henry Kissinger. Carter sought to strengthen diplomatic relations with Beijing. In 1979, he recognized 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 rapidly growing power of China.

However, Carter was forced to strengthen alliances with Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines while maintaining a strong commitment to the Pacific region. His government also made efforts to support peace processes in Vietnam and Cambodia to ensure stability in Southeast Asia, despite the deep wounds left by the end of the Vietnam War on US foreign policy.

Carter viewed the Pacific as a vital region for the future of the United States, promoting economic cooperation and development instead of military intervention. This vision helped lay the foundations for America’s increased influence in the region in the following years, contributing to the so-called ‘Pivot to Asia’ strategy, which still represents a long-term strategic focus for the United States.

President Carter is often unfairly labeled as a failure, but he had significant achievements, especially in environmental policies. Carter’s forward-thinking and even courageous policies were evident before the Camp David Accords in 1977. He signed an agreement to return the governance of the Panama Canal to Panama, a symbol of US imperialistic privileges in Central America. In the years following his presidency, Carter increasingly took clear stances against extremism, interventionism, and unilateralism in US foreign policy. For example, he strongly condemned the intense intervention in Iraq in 2003, tools that were used during the war on terror under George W. Bush’s administration, including Guantanamo Bay prison and the use of drones in targeted assassination policies under the Obama administration.