President Joe Biden delivered a speech Monday defending his foreign policy legacy after a term that was defined by a level of geopolitical instability unseen since the end of the Cold War.
Speaking at the State Department, Biden, 82, began by declaring the post-Cold War period over and acknowledging that great power geopolitical competition has returned. The U.S. is on top in this new era of revived competition thanks to his performance as president, Biden argued.
“Compared to four years ago, America is stronger. Our alliances are stronger. Our adversaries and competitors are weaker. We have not gone to war to make these things happen. During my presidency I’ve increased America’s power in every dimension,” Biden stated.
“We’ve increased our diplomatic power, creating more allies than the United States has ever had in the history of our nation. We’ve increased our military power, making the most significant investments in the defense industrial base in decades. We’ve increased the technology power, taking the lead in artificial intelligence and other technologies of the future. And we’ve increased the economic power building the most dynamic economy in the world from the bottom up and the middle out,” Biden added.
Biden argued America is in a better position than its competitors and laid out his administration’s foreign policy record from around the world. He claimed the economy is “booming” and celebrated American innovations in strategic technological sectors. Likewise, he asserted that he made investments in American workers unseen since the new deal and touted his administration’s industrial policy.
“NATO is more capable than it’s ever been and many more of our allies are paying their fair share,” Biden continued. He cited the increase in NATO allies paying their military dues for the alliance.
In southeast Asia, Biden praised his administration’s diplomatic initiatives with allies such as Australia, Japan, South Korean, and India, all of whom are crucial to U.S. competition against China. Biden similarly trumpeted his administration’s regional partnerships in south America on a number of issues and noted his efforts to protect international shipping routes from Houthi terrorists.
A pivotal moment of Biden’s term was the mismanaged withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021 that saw 13 U.S. marines killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul. The chaotic withdrawal after two decades of war began a polling tumble for Biden that he never recovered from, making him a less popular outgoing president than any of his predecessors.
“In my view, it was time to end the war and bring our troops home, and we did. I commend the courage of all those who served in Afghanistan,” Biden stated, defending the decision to withdraw and mourning those who died during the war.
“Critics said if we ended the war it would damage our alliances and create threats to our homeland from foreign directed terrorism out of a safe haven in Afghanistan. Neither has occurred,” Biden emphasized. He cited the elimination of an Al-Qaeda leader who helped orchestrate the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a demonstration of America’s ability to continue striking adversaries in Afghanistan.
Not long after the withdrawal, Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and attempted to seize the nation’s capital of Kyiv. The Ukraine war reignited military conflict in Europe and saw western nations rally to Ukraine’s cause to help it hold off its larger neighbor. Almost three years later, Ukraine continues to fight to regain eastern territory it lost to Russia and is hoping to become part of the NATO alliance.
Repeatedly, Biden claimed his adversaries were weaker than normal, taunting Russian strongman Vladimir Putin for failing to conquer Kyiv and failing to achieve his strategic goals. Biden mentions the U.S. military aid and economic sanctions to benefit Ukraine, and the international unity behind Ukraine’s defense.
“When Putin launched his invasion, I had two jobs. One to rally the world to defend Ukraine, and the other is to avoid war between two nuclear powers. We did both those things. Today, Ukraine is still a free, independent country with the potential…for a bright future. We laid the foundation for the next administration,” Biden said.
Shifting to the Middle East, Biden condemned Hamas’s mass civilian slaughter on October 7, 2023, and lauded the U.S.-led coalition that defended Israel against Iran’s two direct attacks. Biden also celebrated Hezbollah’s depletion and the weakness of the Iranian regime compared to decades prior. The recent collapse of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s regime is evidence of Iran and Russia’s depleting power, Biden said.
Observing the increasingly allied authoritarian states of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, Biden said they were coming together from positions of weakness. He detailed the administration’s economic policies against China including tariffs and export controls with the backing of American partners. Biden suggested that his administration’s communications with Chinese counterparts, despite the competition, allowed for collaboration on fentanyl and climate change while preventing full-scale war.
Furthermore, Biden celebrated his administration’s climate change leadership on the international stage and his administration’s effort to free American hostages held abroad by authoritarian regimes. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was the most profile American detainee after Russian authorities arrested him on sham charges in 2023.
Biden urged the incoming Trump administration to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and detailed ongoing cease-fire negotiations between Israel and its Middle Eastern partners. The nearly-completed deal would secure the release of hostages being held in Hamas captivity while ending the conflict in Gaza and facilitating humanitarian aid to the area.
He also believes the Trump administration should not offshore artificial intelligence technology and continue promoting the clean energy economy.
Over the course of his 50 year political career, foreign policy was always a top priority for Biden in the Senate and the West Wing. Biden mentioned his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and his foreign policy work as president and vice president. He closed the speech by describing how the U.S. is capable of leading through power and example because America was built on an idea, unlike any other nation.