In an unusual circumstance for presidential elections, both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have extensive backgrounds in foreign policy and clearly defined stances on many global issues. Supporters of Trump at the Republican National Convention are anticipated to argue that Biden has diminished America’s international standing and allowed conflicts to escalate, like those between Russia and Ukraine, and the Israelis and Palestinians. On the contrary, Biden, a Democrat who campaigned on reinforcing America’s foreign alliances and rolling back Trump’s policies, asserts that he has improved U.S. standing globally.
Here is an overview of their involvement in key conflicts:
**Afghanistan**
Biden faced criticism for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years, the longest conflict in U.S. history. The tumultuous events in mid-2021, including a deadly attack at the Kabul airport, presented a significant challenge for the Biden administration. Biden defended his decision, citing the accomplishment of initial goals set after the 9/11 attacks. However, his administration also pointed blame at Trump for an unclear withdrawal plan.
**The Middle East, Iran, and Yemen**
During his tenure, Trump displayed strong support for Israel, controversially moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. He also implemented policies favoring Israel, which Biden later reversed. Trump’s administration succeeded in brokering normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab nations but failed to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
**Iran**
Trump withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, opting for a “maximum pressure” strategy with stringent sanctions. This approach heightened tensions with Iran, leading to the assassination of a top Iranian commander. Biden tried to revive the nuclear deal but faced obstacles, eventually agreeing to release frozen Iranian funds in return for American detainees in Iran.
The rest of the conflicts and relationships, including Trump’s and Biden’s stances on North Korea, China, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, and NATO, also depict their contrasting approaches to foreign policy challenges and international diplomacy. Trump’s skepticism towards alliances and Biden’s efforts to reinforce U.S. ties with allies play key roles in shaping their foreign policies and addressing global conflicts.
