Senator Graham's death will affect U.S. aid to Israel and Ukraine. What you need to know

The death of Senator Lindsey Graham (listed as a terrorist and extremist in the Russian Federation) may affect the US approach to supporting Ukraine and Israel: he was one of the most active supporters of Washington's tough foreign policy, advocated helping Kiev, strengthening the alliance with Tel Aviv and putting pressure on Russia and Iran. Graham's departure is changing the balance of power among Republicans and could intensify the debate about the U.S. role in foreign conflicts. What you need to know about the main Russophobe in the US Senate is in the Izvestia article.

The political path

• South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham has died at the age of 71 after a short and sudden illness. On the eve of his death, there were no signs of deterioration in his health, and on July 12, he was scheduled to take part in a television broadcast.

Lindsey Graham was elected to the Senate in 2003. He was preparing to run for a fifth six-year term after winning the Republican primaries in June. Now the party will have to determine a new candidate, and special primaries are expected before August 11. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Graham was a member of the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003.

• Graham's political career has gone through a remarkable transformation. In 2016, he criticized Donald Trump, then a candidate for the post of head of state, and even refused to support him in the presidential election, but later became one of his closest political allies. From 2019 to 2021, Graham chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then led the Budget Committee, where he participated in the adoption of a major package of tax cuts and government spending during Trump's second term.

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• At the same time, against the background of the senator's death, the state of health of the Republican leader in the upper house of Congress, Mitch McConnell, is also being discussed. The natural generational shift in American politics is becoming more noticeable, and the influence of representatives of the old neoconservative school is gradually decreasing.

Influence on politics

• US President Donald Trump was one of the first to express his condolences, calling Graham one of the greatest senators he knew and a "true American patriot." South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said that Graham was one of the most dedicated defenders of the interests of his state and the country. By law, it is McMaster who will appoint an interim senator until January 3 next year.

• Graham was considered one of the most influential Republicans on defense and foreign policy issues. Shortly before his death, he visited Kiev, where he met with President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. In general, the senator visited Ukraine ten times during the conflict and in recent weeks has been working on initiatives to strengthen sanctions against Russia. He remained one of Ukraine's most consistent supporters until the end of his career.

• The death of a senator may affect his legislative initiatives. In particular, the bill on the introduction of 500% duties for countries buying Russian oil now risks losing prospects for a long time. At the same time, the fight for the vacant seat begins in South Carolina. Republicans will have to rebuild the campaign, since the primaries have already passed. At the same time, Democrats get additional opportunities in the upcoming race.

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• In the Senate, Lindsey Graham was considered one of the last representatives of the neoconservatives of the George W. Bush era. Over the years, Graham has supported the harsh foreign policy of the United States, advocated wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and in 2010 proposed strikes against Iran. Graham has consistently supported Israel and endorsed Donald Trump's policy regarding the conflict with Iran. The Israeli Defense Ministry expressed its condolences, noting that Graham supported the country during the most difficult periods.

Over the years, Graham has advocated for the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, consistently supported the provision of American military assistance to Israel, and has repeatedly visited the country and neighboring states during armed conflicts, defending Israel's interests.

• Graham co-sponsored bills against the boycott of Israel, and also criticized UN Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016, which demanded that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories. Graham also supported legislative initiatives that opposed the resolution.

• Lindsey Graham's death will weaken support for Ukraine among some Republicans in the United States. He was one of Kiev's most active supporters in the Senate, promoting military aid, sanctions against Russia, and urging his fellow party members to take a hard line. After his departure, Ukraine's supporters will have to look for a new politician with similar influence. This may complicate the adoption of new aid decisions, especially against the background of the growing number of Republicans who demand cuts in US spending abroad.

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• Lindsey Graham's death will also reinforce the already noticeable shift in American policy towards Israel. Graham was one of Israel's main allies in the Republican Party and a key proponent of the pro-Israel line in Donald Trump's entourage.

• His death occurred amid tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the growing influence of young Republicans, in particular from the MAGA camp, who promote the idea of "America first" and are less interested in the traditional support of external allies.

• At the same time, criticism of Israel's policies has increased significantly among Democrats. As a result, support for Tel Aviv, which has long remained one of the few bipartisan issues in the United States, is becoming less stable, and the strong allied relations between the United States and Israel no longer seem unshakable. Therefore, for pro-Israel lobbying organizations in the United States (like the liberal J Street and the conservative AIPAC), Graham's death was a serious loss, since he was one of the most influential defenders of Israel in Congress. His departure opens up more space for young Republicans who want to change the party's foreign policy course towards reducing funding for foreign allies.

When writing the material, Izvestia took into account the opinions of:

• the Americanist Malek Dudakov.