Last week, it was seen that Donald Trump critiqued Joe Biden’s approach to international relations as ‘terrible’ and termed it as the ‘darkest time’ in the records of our nation’s governance. Upon reflection, it was grievously obvious that Biden’s lack of assertiveness in foreign policy has been far from satisfactory, as observed in areas like Ukraine, the augmentation of NATO, and issues in the Middle East. Trump’s unfounded boasting about his hypothetical foreign policy intentions unwittingly leaves him open to future predicaments.
Biden’s exit strategy from Afghanistan, or rather the lack thereof, was nothing short of devastating. The convenience of pointing out that Trump had previously paved the way for this situation through a capitulation contract with the Taliban shouldn’t excuse Biden’s failure to evacuate American citizens and Afghan supporters while Bagram Air Base was still in our control.
Unfortunately, it seems Trump’s initial agreement with the Taliban revealed a preference for hastily removing uncomfortable issues from his plate. Are we set to anticipate a continuation of this random pattern of withdrawal from regions such as Syria, Europe, or South Korea, regardless of the potential consequences on America’s national security and alliances? Only if Trump defies these inclinations can he save us from future calamities, even more catastrophic than Biden’s Afghanistan debacle.
The Middle East has been another arena for intense political play. Recently, Trump’s team for Ukraine affairs seemed to collaborate amicably with Biden’s representatives to negotiate a temporary ceasefire for hostages in Gaza. An attempt was made by Biden to introduce a similar agreement in the past, but it was derailed primarily due to internal Israeli politics and Benjamin Netanyahu’s insistence on waiting for Trump’s return.
In the absence of sustained U.S. influence and determined efforts from the White House, it is foreseeable that the ceasefire agreement will fall apart under Trump’s administration. In essence, the initiative fills a gap but fails to resolve the underlying issues, simply marking time until the next flare-up.
Translating to Ukraine’s crisis, Biden theorized the essence of safeguarding from Vladimir Putin’s belligerence via motivating European and U.S. armed assistance for Kyiv. However, he faltered by allowing Putin to intimdate him with threats of nuclear warfare, which led to the late dispatch of vital military assistance. Should Trump follow suit and shirk away from providing aid to Ukraine, he risks cementing his place in history as the facilitator of Moscow and Beijing’s ascendency in global politics.
Furthermore, Biden’s seemingly best strategy was his approach towards alliances; rallying NATO associates after Russia’s intrusion into Ukraine and forming new cooperations throughout Asia to counter China’s territorial ambitions. Trump’s insistence on NATO partners contributing more towards their own military expenditures is commendable in theory, yet he fails to recognize the strategic importance of alliances for countering increasing Russian and Chinese hostilities.
Keeping up with the growing issue of disinformation, particularly from Russia and China, has been a struggle for Biden. These false narratives, often managed on social media and bolstered by advanced artificial intelligence, have shaped up to be a real security menace.
Biden’s administrative choices in dealing with international relations appeared to be strong, at least on the surface. Despite having the appropriate strategies for most issues, Biden and his team miserably failed in successfully bolstering humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Trump, on the other hand, is shaping an allegiance-based team, which lacks experience and aptitude for dealing with international affairs. Under a leader as erratic and uninformed as Trump, it’s a recipe for disaster. If his choices are confirmed for the positions at the Pentagon and as director of national intelligence, then it’s fair to say that his foreign policy kicks off on the wrong foot.
Biden’s legacy to Trump includes a tapestry of alliances which could theoretically form the foundation for tough resistance against our adversaries. However, the underlying challenges are far from resolved due to Biden’s favoritism towards autocracy and evident narcissism. His approach could potentially make us nostalgic for Joe Biden’s imperfect administration, as flawed as it was.