Why the US midterms matter even if you don't live in America

You might live thousands of miles away from the United States. You can't vote in its elections. You might not even follow American politics. But the upcoming elections could affect your country, your economy, and even the wars being fought around you. Because while Americans are deciding who controls Congress, the consequences could be felt far beyond U.S. borders. Take Israel and Gaza. The U.S. supplies Israel with billions of dollars in military assistance. But that money doesn't just come from the White House. Congress plays a major role in deciding how much funding is approved and whether conditions are attached to it so if control of Congress changes lawmakers could push for more restrictions on military assistance or fight to maintain it and that's not just a political debate in Washington it has consequences for people living through the war we've already seen how much Congress can matter in 2024 U.S. lawmakers spent months fighting over additional aid to Ukraine and while they argued in Washington, Ukraine was facing shortages of weapons and ammunition. Congress eventually approved the funding, but it was a reminder that decisions made here can affect what happens on a battlefield thousands of miles away. Then there are sanctions. Take Iran, for example. The U.S. has imposed sanctions targeting everything from its oil exports to its banking sector. And Congress has passed laws that make some of those restrictions difficult for a president to remove. So who controls Congress could affect whether those sanctions are tightened, challenged, or kept in place. And their impact isn't limited to Iran. They can also affect foreign banks and companies doing business with the country. And then there's trade. Trump has imposed tariffs on goods from countries around the world, including China. Those tariffs can affect Chinese manufacturers, American importers, and businesses that rely on products moving between the two countries. And while Trump has broad authority to impose certain tariffs, Congress can change the laws that give presidents those powers. So a shift in Congress could also change the rules governing America's trade relationships. Now the president still has enormous power over foreign policy, but Congress has the power to shape decisions that affect millions of people around the world. Because what happens in Washington doesn't stop at America's borders.