Analysis: New Congress to affect overseas ties

WASHINGTON -- The Republicans' huge victory in congressional elections could crimp President Barack Obama's hopes of resetting relations with Russia and open the way for a new get-tough approach with China.

The congressional shake-up after Tuesday's vote also could bring better backing for Obama's policies in Afghanistan. But it could force the president to ease demands that Israel make concessions to the Palestinians on settlement building in the West Bank, a crucial issue in stalled peace talks.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said the election results will not change the U.S. course abroad because "politics stops" at the nation's borders. Republicans and Democrats, she said, can "build coalitions" and "find allies on issues that are in America's interests."

Despite her words, the dramatic shift in the American political scene is bound to have an effect.

A stronger Republican voice in Congress may push the president to slow plans to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan in July and badger him to be even tougher on Iran over its suspected nuclear weapons program.

Simmering conflicts with China probably could be most open to quick U.S. action with Republicans holding a majority in the House of Representatives and more seats in the Senate. Their tougher approach on human rights and minority issues in China may extend to Beijing's currency, which many Democrats also want raised against the dollar so that American goods can better compete in international markets.

Failure by China to act could lead to stronger bipartisan calls for sanctions.

More Republicans in office could help Obama on trade deals.

Many of Obama's Democrats are suspicious of an accord with South Korea to slash trade barriers on industrial goods and services, which has languished since it was signed in 2007 by George W. Bush's Republican administration.

Opponents in Congress want Seoul to do more to deal with its surplus in auto trade and allow more access to American beef.

Obama now backs the deal as a way to improve American exports and strengthen ties with an important U.S. ally. He has directed his trade officials to settle differences before the Group of 20 economic summit Nov. 11-12 in Seoul.

But Obama's foreign policy could take a battering over efforts to improve relations with Russia. Many conservatives have not shed their Cold War distrust of Moscow and are skeptical of a nuclear arms pact Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed in April.