Biden Asserts Dominance Over Putin and Trump in Fiery NATO Summit Finale

President Joe Biden has spent the last four years reasserting the United States as a reliable partner on the global stage, particularly in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in Feb. 2022, in stark contrast to his predecessor, Donald Trump. This week, Biden’s foreign policy efforts took center stage as he met with fellow NATO members during its annual summit in Washington, marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary.

Biden concluded the summit with a significant press conference on Thursday, which was seen as crucial for his campaign amidst rising questions about his candidacy following a poor debate performance against Trump. “I beat him once, and I’ll beat him again,” Biden declared when asked about mounting calls for him to step down in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Biden drew a sharp contrast between his support for Ukraine and Trump’s lenient stance towards Putin. “I made it clear that I will not bow down to Putin, I will not walk away from Ukraine. I will keep NATO strong. That’s exactly what we’ll continue to do,” he asserted. Beyond the political rhetoric, international allies were keenly observing Biden’s performance to gauge the United States’ commitment to NATO amidst ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and tensions with countries like China, Iran, and North Korea.

Experts noted that intense focus on Biden’s age, 81, diverted attention from the summit’s primary objective: rebuking the deepening ties between China and Russia. During Thursday’s press conference, Biden addressed a NATO declaration naming China as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war. He emphasized his direct communication line with Chinese President Xi Jinping, promising to highlight the repercussions of undermining both the Pacific Basin and Europe. “We have to make sure that Xi understands that there’s a price to pay,” Biden stated.

Kristine Berzina of the George Marshall Fund Geostrategy North, speaking with Courthouse News, expressed concerns about Biden’s “excessive caution” in supplying weapons to Ukraine, frustrating European allies. She criticized the policy allowing Ukraine to use American weapons only defensively against Russian forces, arguing broader access could have significantly improved Ukraine’s position.

David Super, a Georgetown University law professor, echoed these sentiments, suggesting Biden’s cautious approach could hinder Ukraine if Trump, viewed as more pro-Putin, regains the presidency. Super remarked that Biden, despite his extensive foreign affairs experience, may be entrenched in outdated strategies. “He has not done as well as one might wish at updating his thinking,” Super added.

During his evening press conference, Biden defended his weapon restrictions, emphasizing they are based on military advice. He made no indication of easing these restrictions. Earlier, he announced a new $225 million aid package for Ukraine, including various advanced missile systems and artillery rounds. This aid package, announced jointly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, complements a previous deal involving multiple NATO countries contributing defense systems.

In an awkward moment later on Thursday, Biden mistakenly introduced Zelenskyy as Russian President Vladimir Putin before quickly correcting himself. Addressing the slip-up, Biden lauded the summit as a “successful conference.”