The Democratic Party’s sweeping victory in the US midterm elections has raised questions about how the incoming Congress will address ongoing conflicts in Iran, Gaza, and Ukraine. The election results are largely seen as a referendum on President Donald Trump’s policies, particularly his decision to start a war with Iran in February, which has proved deeply unpopular among American voters.

European leaders have cautiously welcomed the results, hoping that the Democrat-led lawmakers will help mend fractured transatlantic ties and boost Washington’s waning support for Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. Trump has withdrawn support for Ukraine, blaming strikes on Russian oil facilities for the fuel crisis and calling for the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Despite their wins, Democrats lack the two-thirds majority needed to overturn a presidential veto and push through laws. However, they may use their control over the purse strings to restrict funding for the war in Iran, although this could prove problematic with troops already on the ground.

Iran may now press harder for the US to agree to its conditions for ending the war, given the weakening of the Republican Party. The election of several progressive Democratic candidates who have been critical of Israel’s war on Gaza and illegal settler pogroms in the occupied West Bank could also shift the dynamics of the US’s longstanding support for Israel.

In an apparent attempt to appease voters on election day, Trump announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had suggested the US should cease its $4 billion annual aid to the country. However, Netanyahu’s office did not comment on this claim.

Regarding Ukraine, the country hopes that the new Democrat-led Congress will renew US support, which has waned under the Trump administration. Trump has blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for causing the rise in global diesel prices and has suspended sanctions on Russian oil, drawing rebuke from both Democrats and Republicans.

As the new Congress convenes in January, the world will be watching to see how the shift in power affects US foreign policy and its approach to these ongoing conflicts. While the Democrats’ victory offers hope for change, the limitations imposed by the presidential veto and the complexities of these conflicts mean that any shifts in policy will likely be gradual and hard-fought.