Ending US ‘Muslim ban’ not enough

▶ Overturning limits on travel must be matched with a new, decisive US Middle East strategy

In June 2009, former US president Barack Obama delivered a speech from Cairo, addressing the entire Islamic world. He promised that the US would be an unambiguous friend of all Muslims. Mr Obama became the man of the moment in the Middle East. And yet what followed in terms of policy implementation fell short of what most had hoped would be achieved.

President Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban”, which imposes stringent travel restrictions on citizens of 13 countries, could not have presented a greater contrast. It was seen by many as evidence of an American position of “guilty until proven innocent” towards people based on religion.

President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming chief of staff has said that the new administration will end the ban. This could reunite families, allow talented Muslims to contribute to American society and finish complicated visa application procedures that apply to people with dual nationality from the banned countries.

But the precedent for making travel to the US harder for some Muslims was actually set by Mr Obama. In 2015, his administration complicated visa applications for anyone from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Syria, Sudan, Iran and Iraq. The new measures also applied to people from any nation who had visited these “countries of concern” after March 2011, or held dual citizenship. European citizens whose families hailed from those nations or held dual citizenship were also included in a measure that the Obama administration said was addressing “the growing threat from foreign terrorist fighters”.

Countries justifiably tightened borders after 2011’s chaos in the Middle East. This was partly motivated by domestic politics; fears over immigration throughout the West can now swing elections.

All administrations have to confront the contradiction between lofty ambitions and the complex reality of realising them. Mr Obama had the financial crisis and a deteriorating Middle East. In Cairo, the region was promised prosperity. In reality, the Obama administration used 10 times as many drone strikes as those ordered during the entire Bush administration.

Mr Biden’s ideals will be dampened by a medley that includes the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and more complicated geopolitics than four years ago.

Many expect him to fill the vacuum created by Mr Trump’s desire to withdraw the US from active global leadership. With America’s departure, other nations have stepped into fill the void. It is harder to reclaim this space than it is to leave it.

Managing a changed world requires new approaches. Mr Biden’s proposed foreign policy team is experienced, but almost entirely drawn from the Obama era. They cannot afford to replicate the policies of old.

The incoming administration is right to spot the important symbolism of revoking the “Muslim ban”. But in order to confront the difficulties of today’s unstable world, good oratory and ambitious promises will not be enough. Mr Biden will have to assess frankly how the world has changed and implement decisive measures in response.