A big Republican win in Tuesday's U.S. congressional elections could jolt U.S. relations with Europe by affecting issues such as arms control, climate change and relations with Turkey.
Foreign policy has not been a factor in the campaign, which has been dominated by economic and other domestic issues. But if Republicans, as expected, win control of the House of Representatives and make gains in the Senate, the impact will be felt beyond U.S. borders. Though Congress does not run U.S. foreign policy, it can influence it in many ways, and President Barack Obama could find many of his priorities stalled or tripped up by lawmakers.
Obama's arms control agenda and U.S.-Russian relations could be the first foreign policy casualties of the election. The administration has been trying for months to win enough Republican support in the Senate to ratify the New Strategic Arms Control Treaty with Russia.
With poor prospects for U.S. legislation on reducing emissions, it is unlikely that Obama can lobby effectively or a global pact that would bind the countries of the world to limits on greenhouse gasses. The issue has become a political loser domestically. If voters appear to rebuke him Tuesday, Obama will be looking for other initiatives that can improve his own re-election chances in 2012.
For more: The Canadian Press: Europe may feel impact from US Republican election gains
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