Biden Says U.S. Stronger and Safer After Four Years of Leadership

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Biden Says U.S. Stronger and Safer After Four Years of Leadership/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Joe Biden delivered a speech highlighting his foreign policy achievements, including strengthening alliances, supporting Ukraine, and countering adversaries like Russia and Iran. He touted a “strong hand” for President-elect Trump to navigate ongoing global conflicts, while Trump criticized Biden’s tenure as a failure.

President Joe Biden, left, walks with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, as he arrives to give a speech about foreign policy at the State Department in Washington, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Biden’s Foreign Policy Legacy: Quick Looks

NATO Expansion: Strengthened alliances and supported Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
Middle East: Backed Israel in conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah; Iran reportedly weakened.
Economic Policy: Advanced U.S. chip manufacturing to compete with China.
Criticisms: Chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and high Palestinian casualties in Gaza war.
Trump’s Response: Called Biden’s foreign policy “a terrible four years.”

Biden Says U.S. Stronger and Safer After Four Years of Leadership

Deep Look:

Biden’s Reflection on Foreign Policy

President Joe Biden, in a wide-ranging speech delivered at the State Department, outlined his administration’s efforts to bolster the U.S.’s global standing, maintain alliances, and counter threats from adversaries like Russia and Iran. As he prepares to leave office, Biden emphasized his administration’s accomplishments while noting ongoing challenges for President-elect Donald Trump.

“America is stronger. Our alliances are stronger,” Biden said, highlighting his administration’s efforts to rebuild relationships strained during Trump’s previous term. He argued that his presidency left the nation “safer and economically more secure.”

NATO and Ukraine

Biden’s foreign policy was heavily defined by his response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. His administration provided more than $100 billion in military and economic aid, ensuring Ukraine’s resilience against a larger and better-equipped Russian military.

Sanctions on Russia: Coordinated with allies to impose economic penalties on Moscow.
Ukraine’s Future: Biden expressed optimism that the U.S. and allies had set the stage for a “just end” to the conflict, leaving Trump with leverage for negotiations.
Trump, however, has criticized the cost of U.S. involvement and pledged to end the war quickly, raising questions about future American support for Ukraine.

Afghanistan Withdrawal

Biden fulfilled a campaign promise by ending the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan in 2021. However, the chaotic withdrawal, marked by the collapse of the Afghan government and a deadly bombing at Kabul airport, drew widespread criticism.

“Ending the war was the right thing to do,” Biden defended, asserting that critics’ warnings of damaged alliances and terrorism threats had not materialized.

Middle East Dynamics

Biden’s approach to the Middle East was defined by his unwavering support for Israel during its conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran and Hezbollah: Biden claimed Iran’s regional influence had been significantly weakened.
Gaza Conflict: U.S. arms sales to Israel continued despite calls for restraint amid high civilian casualties in Gaza. Critics argued Biden could have done more to pressure Israel into minimizing destruction.
Biden’s Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk, is working on a deal to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, a task Trump has vowed to prioritize.

Economic Policy and China

Biden also touted domestic economic initiatives with foreign policy implications, such as bolstering American chip manufacturing to reduce dependence on China. He presented this as a cornerstone of U.S. competition with Beijing.

Trump’s Response

Hours after Biden’s speech, Trump dismissed the administration’s foreign policy achievements as failures. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump criticized Biden’s handling of Afghanistan, Ukraine, and the Middle East, calling his tenure “a terrible four years.”