Biden praised his withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, despite the tragic deaths of 13 American troops and hundreds of Afghans in a suicide bombing during the chaotic withdrawal. Billions of dollars in American military equipment was also left behind and is now being used by the Taliban terrorists who run the country.
But his foreign policy legacy may ultimately be shaped by his administration's response to two of the biggest conflicts in Europe and the Middle East since World War II.
Biden had a hopeful outlook for the Middle East when he addressed the U.N. just a year ago. In that speech, Biden spoke of a “sustainable, integrated Middle East” coming into view.
At the time, economic relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors were improving with implementation of the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with Bahrain, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates during the Trump administration.
Eighteen days later, Biden's Middle East hopes came crashing down. Hamas terrorists stormed into Israel killing 1,200, and taking some 250 hostage.
Biden, in his address, called for the sustainment of Western support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is pressing Biden to loosen restrictions on the use of Western-supplied long-range missiles so that Ukrainian forces can hit deeper in Russia.
Putin has warned that Russia would be “at war” with the United States and its NATO allies if they allow Ukraine to use the long-range weapons.
