Biden insists his presidency restored global credibility, but Trump’s return looms large over his foreign policy legacy
Washington: President Joe Biden walked into the White House four years ago with a big plan to fix the alliances that had been strained during Donald Trump’s presidency. He was facing a global pandemic and a bunch of international crises right off the bat, like the chaotic U.S. exit from Afghanistan and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As he gets ready to leave office, Biden believes he’s made progress in restoring America’s credibility worldwide. He’s set to give a speech about his foreign policy legacy soon. But with Trump making a comeback, Biden’s achievements might be overshadowed by the idea of returning to a more protectionist approach.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan pointed out that many people now see the U.S. as a strong global player again, unlike when they thought China was taking the lead. Biden’s team argues that he provided steady leadership during tough times, but he faced a lot of challenges, including wars and crises.
The messy withdrawal from Afghanistan was a tough start for Biden. It ended with a lot of chaos, and many saw it as a major failure. Trump and others have used it to criticize Biden’s presidency, calling it an embarrassing moment for the country.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, Biden rallied support from allies and sent a ton of aid to help Ukraine fight back. But he’s also faced criticism for being slow to provide certain weapons and for worrying about escalating the conflict with Russia.
As for the Middle East, Biden has backed Israel in its fight against Hamas, but the high civilian death toll has strained his relationship with Israel’s leadership. Activists are calling for an arms embargo, but U.S. policy hasn’t changed much, and Biden is facing backlash for the devastation in Gaza.
With hostages still in Gaza and Trump making threats, Biden’s team is working hard to secure a deal before he leaves office. They’re hoping for some unity between the outgoing and incoming administrations to get this done.
