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Rabat – Some staffers of US President Joe Biden’s communications team are likely facing a harsh performance review after an error-laden tweet sparked online debate. The US and the EU are facing a global backlash for not sharing vaccines and their patents, leading to what appears to be a hastily put-together tweet full of errors.
On Tuesday August 3, the official @POTUS account tweeted a map containing the White House logo that does not conform with official US policy. Members of Biden’s communication team appear to have used an outdated map that does not take into account the December 2020 US decision to formalize its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara region.
Map drama
The map in question was likely taken from the WHO, which follows the UN policy of displaying the Sahara region as non-self-governing territory, or taken from US scientific institutions such as Johns Hopkins University, which continue to use the pre-December 2020 map to display their data onto.
For epidemiologists, such political nuances make little difference when talking about the pandemic, for both proponents and opponents of recent Western Sahara developments, it clearly does.
The hastily-produced map kicked up a storm online as it marks Crimea as part of Russia, does not show most island nations and uses the outdated map of Morocco. Moroccans reacted in force to correct the mistake, by replying to the tweet and even sending corrected maps.
Radical departure?
Supporters of Algeria’s stance on a militia-run Western Sahara responded as if the vaccine tweet indicated a radical departure from official US policy.
If that would be the case, the tweet boasting about US vaccine exports would similarly recognize Russia’s authority over Crimea, and withdraw US recognition of most island nations across the world which make up at least 25% of all UN member states.
The reality of US foreign policy is evident in the official publications of its institutions, not the staffers who maintain the president’s twitter account.
The US position on Western Sahara can be read in full in its published joint declaration with Morocco and Israel.It is further evident in publications by NASA, the IMF, NATO, the CIA, the US State Department as well as the US vaccine authority, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Vaccine framing
The erroneous tweet does not just present an incorrect overview of US foreign policy, it presents a disingenuous overview of US assistance in the global race for vaccines. The tweet conflantes “vaccines distributed,” with donated vaccines, in order to hide the great disparity in exported vaccines across the world.
China alone had already exported 570 million vaccines across the world, while having provided over a billion vaccines for domestic use. China’s tally far exceeds the current amount of vaccines exported by the US and the EU, who have exported less vaccines combined, despite lofty promises and commitments.
Trying to present the US as a global savior “from day one,” as the tweet claims, is both disingenuous and in clear contrast to the reality on the ground.
Correcting mistakes
While millions of Chinese vaccines are shipped to the world’s lower -and middle income nations every day based on win-win bilateral agreements, the US uses the distinction of “donations” in order to present itself as a genuine global philanthropist on this issue.
If the Biden Administration is truy intended to change the global narrative on vaccine exports, it has to use its diplomatic and economic clout to end the for-profit vaccine response.
In addition to its government action, its communication officials should produce more accurate data, and better checked map graphics to avoid the unnecessary drama caused by yesterday’s ill-informed tweet. Respect for a valued regional ally should include respect for its national priorities, something Morocco’s Western “partners” often neglect.
If the US would be planning a radical shift that would offend regional partner Morocco, as well as the US’ top ally Israel, it would not have sent its representative to solidify its stance.
Such a shift would be a sudden break with US moves regarding Morocco, solidified by visits by high-level military officials, and the US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Joey Hood. Hood, on July 28, stated that the US intends to “further strengthen” its two-centuries old ties with Morocco.
Had the tweet been meant as a reversal of US policy this would have come on the same day as a visit of the US army’s top military official, Chief of Staff James C. McConville. McConville stated he was in the country to meet with “our long term and highly capable partners in Morocco.”
While the US stance has been repeatedly confirmed by its officials and increasing cooperation, the president’s communication staff are likely to face some additional training, if not an outright sacking for this diplomatic blunder.
