As the 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden leaves behind a mixed and polarizing legacy in foreign policy. His presidency (2021–2025) was marked by numerous geopolitical challenges, ranging from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan to the war in Ukraine and rising tensions with China. This post delves into Biden’s foreign policy approach, examining its successes, failures, and long-term implications.

The Afghanistan Withdrawal: A Chaotic Conclusion to a 20-Year War

One of the most defining moments of Biden’s presidency was the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. While the withdrawal stemmed from a deal struck by his predecessor, Donald Trump, Biden chose to adhere to an arbitrary deadline of September 11, 2021—a decision widely criticized for its symbolic rather than strategic value.

Key Events:

  • Rapid Taliban Takeover: Despite intelligence warnings about the fragility of Afghanistan’s government, Biden accelerated the withdrawal timeline, leading to the Taliban’s swift capture of Kabul on August 15, 2021.
  • Airlift Effort: Over 122,000 people were evacuated during a chaotic airlift operation, showcasing U.S. logistical capabilities but overshadowed by a deadly suicide bombing at Kabul Airport that killed 13 U.S. service members and 169 Afghan civilians.
  • Criticism: The withdrawal was described as a failure of leadership and planning, with the U.S. State Department’s 2023 after-action report citing insufficient preparation for worst-case scenarios.

While the decision to leave Afghanistan was arguably inevitable, the manner in which it unfolded remains a blemish on Biden’s foreign policy record.

Ukraine: Leading, Yet Hesitating

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 thrust Biden into the center of Europe’s most significant conflict since World War II. His administration provided critical support to Ukraine but faced criticism for a perceived lack of decisiveness.

Achievements:

  • Military Aid: The U.S. became the largest military supporter of Ukraine, supplying advanced weaponry, including HIMARS rocket systems and intelligence for major operations.
  • Global Leadership: Biden rallied NATO and other allies, strengthening the transatlantic alliance in response to Russian aggression.

Critiques:

  • Half Measures: Delays in providing key weapons and technologies, such as advanced air defense systems and long-range missiles, weakened Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts.
  • Missed Opportunities: A more robust and timely response could have positioned Ukraine more favorably in the war.

Biden’s approach reflected a cautious balancing act, prioritizing support without provoking direct conflict with Russia—a strategy that yielded mixed results.

The Middle East: Pragmatism Amid Chaos

Initially adopting a “back-to-basics” approach to the Middle East, Biden’s presidency witnessed a dramatic shift following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.

Successes:

  • Normalization Efforts: Biden played a key role in fostering Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic outreach to Iran and the early stages of normalization talks with Israel.
  • Support for Israel: Biden’s administration provided significant military aid to Israel during its response to the Hamas attacks.

Failures:

  • Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza: Biden’s unwavering support for Israel drew criticism for enabling a humanitarian disaster in Gaza, with widespread civilian displacement and casualties.
  • Geopolitical Fallout: The conflict derailed efforts toward broader regional peace, including Saudi-Israeli normalization.

Biden’s Middle East policy underscored his administration’s pragmatism but also revealed the limitations of balancing alliances with ethical concerns.

U.S.-China Relations: A Cold War Redux?

Biden’s presidency saw escalating tensions with China, particularly over Taiwan, trade, and military dominance. His approach combined economic decoupling with alliance-building in the Indo-Pacific.

Achievements:

  • Strengthening Alliances: Biden revitalized partnerships with South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines, bolstered the AUKUS pact, and facilitated a detente between South Korea and Japan.
  • Economic Measures: The CHIPS Act aimed to reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese semiconductors.

Challenges:

  • Limited Impact: Despite efforts, U.S. reliance on Chinese critical inputs remains significant, and supply chain vulnerabilities persist.
  • Missed Opportunities: Biden’s approach to containing China lacked the decisive strategies required to address Beijing’s growing influence in Africa, Latin America, and other regions.

Haiti and Africa: Neglected Frontiers

Haiti:

Biden’s refusal to commit U.S. troops to Haiti’s worsening crisis highlighted his administration’s limitations in dealing with the Western Hemisphere. Attempts to broker international interventions floundered, and gang violence spiraled, leaving Haiti in a state of collapse.

Africa:

Efforts to counter China’s influence on the continent through initiatives like the Lobito Corridor yielded limited results. While Biden secured some resource partnerships, his administration failed to address broader instability and governance issues across Africa.

Conclusion: A Mixed Foreign Policy Legacy

Joe Biden’s foreign policy tenure was defined by a blend of pragmatism, hesitation, and occasional missteps. While his administration made significant strides in certain areas, such as rallying NATO against Russia and fostering alliances in Asia, many initiatives were marred by half measures and missed opportunities. His presidency leaves behind a world grappling with unresolved conflicts, fragile alliances, and the growing influence of rival powers.

As historians assess Biden’s foreign policy legacy, one theme is likely to stand out: a presidency of cautious ambitions that fell short of transforming America’s role on the global stage.

FAQs: Biden’s Foreign Policy

1. What was Biden’s most controversial foreign policy decision? The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 is widely regarded as Biden’s most controversial decision.

2. How did Biden handle the Ukraine crisis? Biden provided extensive military and financial aid to Ukraine but faced criticism for delays and half measures.

3. Did Biden improve U.S.-China relations? Relations remained tense, with Biden focusing on economic decoupling and alliance-building to counter China’s influence.

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By Ryan Hite

Ryan Hite is an American author, content creator, podcaster, and media personality. He was born on February 3, 1993, in Colorado and spent his childhood in Conifer, Colorado. He moved to Littleton in 2000 and spent the remainder of his schooling years in the city. Upon graduation from Chatfield Senior High School in 2011, he attended the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated from the university in 2015 after studying Urban Planning, Business Administration, and Religious Studies. He spent more time in Colorado in the insurance, real estate, and healthcare industries. In 2019, he moved to Las Vegas, NV, where he continued to work in healthcare, insurance, and took his foray into media full time in 2021. His first exposure to the media industry came as a result of the experiences he had in his mid to late teens and early twenties. In 2013, he was compelled to collect a set of stories from his personal experiences and various other writings that he has had. His first book, a 365,000-word epic, Through Minds Eyes, was published in collaboration with Balboa Press. That initial book launched a media explosion. He learned all that he could about creating websites, marketing his published works, and would even contemplate the publication of other works as well. This book also inspired him to create his philosophy, his life work, that still influences the values that he holds in his life. Upon graduating college, he had many books published, blogs and other informative websites uploaded, and would embark on his continued exploration of the world of marketing, sales, and becoming an influencer. Of course, that did not come without challenges that would come his way. His trial-and-error approach of marketing himself and making himself known guided him through his years as a real estate agent, an insurance agent, and would eventually create a marketing plan from scratch with a healthcare startup. The pandemic did not initially create too many challenges to the status quo. Working from home did not affect the quality of his life. However, a series of circumstances such as continued website problems, social media shutdowns, and unemployment, caused him to pause everything between late 2020 and mid-2021. It was another period of loss of momentum and purpose for his life as he tried to navigate the world, as many people may have felt at that time. He attempted to find purpose in insurance again, resulting in failure. There was one thing that sparked his curiosity and would propel him to rediscover the thing that was gone from his life for so long. In 2021, he started his journey by taking on a full-time job in the digital media industry, an industry that he is still a part of today. It was at this point that he would also shut down the rest of the media that he had going at the time. In 2023, he announced that he would be embarking on what has become known as PROJECT30. This initiative will result in the reformation of websites, the reinvigoration of social media accounts, the creation of a Youtube channel and associated podcast, the creation of music, and the continued rediscovery of his creative potential. Unlike past projects, the purpose of this would not expound on the musings of a philosophy, the dissemination of useless news and articles, or the numerous attempts to be someone that he was not. This project is going to be about his authentic self. There are many ways to follow him as he embarks on this journey. Most of all, he wants everyone to be entertained, informed, and, in some ways, maybe a little inspired about the flourishing of the creativity that lies within the mind and soul of Ryan.

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