‘America’s competitors and adversaries are weaker and under greater pressure than they have been,’ Sullivan said.
WASHINGTON—White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Dec. 22 praised President Joe Biden’s foreign policies, stating that the incoming administration will inherit a stronger America globally, vis-à-vis its adversaries.
“America’s competitors and adversaries are weaker and under greater pressure than they have been,” Sullivan said.
He also noted that throughout his term, Biden managed to keep the country out of war.
“Now it’s going to be up to [President-elect Donald Trump] how he plays that hand, but I’m proud of what we’re handing off,” Sullivan said.
During the Biden administration, there were several major foreign policy challenges, including the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the ongoing war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist group that began with the latter’s land, sea, and air attack on Israel in October 2023.
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The president, frequently criticized for his handling of these crises, said he believes his foreign policy approach has weakened key adversaries, including Russia and Iran.
Biden took a victory lap in a speech on Dec. 8, saying that his strong support for Israel and Ukraine paved the way for events that resulted in the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.
“You know, for years, the main backers of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. But over the last week, their support collapsed—all three of them—because all three of them are far weaker today than they were when I took office,” Biden said.
He noted that U.S. backing of Israel has weakened Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, while U.S. support for Ukraine has inflicted “massive damage on the Russian forces.”
During the CNN interview, Sullivan said that his biggest concern is the resurgence of the ISIS terrorist group in Syria.
“ISIS loves vacuums,” he said, adding that the United States will continue supporting Kurdish fighters in the country to keep ISIS in check.
Sullivan also believes that the current geopolitical environment offers Trump opportunities, including the chance to handle issues with Iran and China through diplomacy.
He said that Trump could choose to manage competition with China effectively.
Trump repeatedly said on the campaign trail that he would raise China tariffs to 60 percent.
Sullivan also suggested that, given the weakened state of Iran, the incoming president could reverse his position on the country and negotiate a nuclear deal that curbs its nuclear ambitions.
“He’s willing to do things that are unexpected,” Sullivan said.
During his first term, Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear accord signed with Iran, undoing President Barack Obama’s key foreign initiative.
Trump called it “the worst deal in history” and restored harsh sanctions on the country.
During an interview with Time Magazine last month, Trump was asked about the chances of going to war with Iran under his new administration.
“Anything can happen,” Trump said. “It’s a very volatile situation.”
Original News Source Link – Epoch Times
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