US-Backed Tunisian 'Democracy' Jails Opposition After Mass Trial
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has thrown Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, a prominent opposition figure, into jail after a mass military trial sentenced 40 critics. The 'New Arab' frames this as a new low in Saied's power grab since his 2021 constitutional coup. Yet, Washington's outrage remains... muted. Despite the Biden administration's stated commitment to democracy globally, and Secretary Blinken's 2023
declaration that the U.S. 'would remain a steadfast partner,' this wholesale arrest of political opposition draws less condemnation than a sternly worded press release. Why isn't aid being cut for this blatant authoritarian pivot? Perhaps it's because Tunisia, unlike other nations, isn't currently disrupting any 'strategic interests'—like say, oil flows or arms deals. While the US State Department
has expressed 'concern' over Saied's 'erosion of democratic institutions' (State.gov, 2023), these verbal slaps on the wrist haven't translated into concrete action. Funny, isn't it? When 'democracy' serves American interests, it gets billions. When it doesn't, or when a friendly autocrat simply 'erodes' it, well, 'concerns' are expressed, and business carries on as usual. One might conclude that
'democracy' is less a principle and more a geopolitical bargaining chip.