Outgoing President Joe Biden on Monday sought to highlight his foreign policy record, saying America’s rivals are weaker than when he took office four years ago despite unresolved global crises.
A week before handing over power to President-elect Donald Trump, Biden, in a rare speech at the State Department, touted his administration’s support for Israel’s wars in Ukraine and the Middle East against Russia’s 2022 invasion.
Biden said the United States is “winning the competition around the world” and will not be overtaken by China economically as had been predicted, while Russia and Iran have been weakened by wars without direct US involvement.
“Compared with four years ago, America is stronger, our alliances are stronger, our adversaries and competitors are weaker,” Biden said. “We didn’t go to war to make these things happen.”
While wars continue in Ukraine and the Middle East, officials remain hopeful that a deal can be reached between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas before Biden leaves the White House on January 20.
Biden said negotiators are close to reaching an agreement that would free hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and halt fighting in the Palestinian territory to allow increased humanitarian aid.
He said, “So many innocent people have been killed, so many communities have been destroyed. The Palestinian people deserve peace.”
Biden faced criticism for providing arms and diplomatic support to Israel during the attack on Gaza following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and injured more than 250, according to Israeli data. Hostages were taken.
According to Palestinian health officials, more than 46,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, with much of the area ruined and much of its population displaced.
Protesters chanting “war criminal” greeted Biden outside the State Department on Monday, some with signs and some throwing red liquid that looked like blood.
Biden said they had helped Israel defeat adversaries such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which were backed by Iran. The US President also praised Washington’s support for Israel during two Iranian attacks in 2024.
“All told, Iran is weaker than it has been in decades,” he said, referring to the fall of the Syrian Assad government. “There is no doubt that our actions made a significant contribution.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
