Staff Reports
President Joe Biden, having gracefully bowed out from the 2024 election like a marionette severing its strings, seems determined to play spoiler for his predecessor, Donald Trump. The outgoing president is working hard with his fellow Democrats and various federal agencies to craft a legacy that will make it tougher for Trump to reverse past policies. Whether it’s tightening regulations or establishing foreign commitments that would make any undoing a politically charged endeavor, Biden’s administration is in full swing to “Trump-proof” government functions, particularly in the realm of foreign affairs.
With Biden’s current political shelf life dwindling down to just six months, all eyes are on how his administration’s foreign policy initiatives might shape future discussions. The Biden administration has positioned NATO as a bulwark against the biggest ground conflict in Europe since World War II, showcasing an intention to pivot U.S. foreign policy focus toward the Pacific region while attempting to sway away from Middle Eastern hostilities. This brings up the fascinating prospect of how a new commander in chief, likely Trump, will navigate through this diplomatic minefield. As the former president prepares to potentially take command again, he may find the world’s chessboard considerably altered compared to his first stint.
Biden’s ‘Trump-proofing’ foreign policy revolves around Ukraine and NATO
The Biden administration has provided Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars worth of military aid and has said their support would continue as long as needed.https://t.co/JA0TRg3Nxy pic.twitter.com/QiO0O5HLGa
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) August 9, 2024
What’s particularly noteworthy is that during last month’s NATO summit, a main topic for discussion revolved around reducing Ukraine’s dependency on U.S. support. The alliance is taking precautionary steps to mitigate risks associated with Trump’s possible return, discussing plans to establish new military centers and pledging long-term financial commitments to Kyiv. It appears to be quite a chess move—setting up fortifications that would likely give any incoming president a headache if they choose to pull back support.
In a classic case of Washington’s double standards, one wonders how Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio feels about the sudden American military altruism toward Ukraine. Vance has never been shy about his indifference to Ukraine’s plight, grumbling openly that he doesn’t care much about the nation’s fate. This raises eyebrows, especially as Trump makes claims of being able to thwart Russia’s ambitions promptly upon entering office again. With such contrasting views, it’s a wonder how the U.S. foreign policy engine could keep running without stalling on the highway of hypocrisy.
As Biden barrels toward the end of his term, he remains committed to showcasing his diplomatic flair, recently orchestrating a complex prisoner swap involving multiple nations. The president touts these achievements while positioning himself as the foreign affairs champion, attempting to draw comparisons between his collaborative style and Trump’s more bombastic approach. The question remains whether any significant foreign policy changes proposed by Trump could stick, given the moves Biden is making now to put such changes out of reach. If anything, these convoluted end-of-term efforts may just highlight the contrasts between the likely approaching administration and his own parting performance, aiming to secure allies far and wide.
