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WASHINGTON — Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the U.S. presidential race adds to uncertainty around the world as Western leaders grapple with wars in Ukraine and Gaza, a more assertive China and the rise of the far right in Europe.
Biden, who has developed long-standing personal relationships with many foreign leaders during his five-year political career, has a reputation unmatched by his potential Democratic successor. Following his announcement, neighbors near and far sent messages of support and gratitude for his years of service.
The range of foreign policy challenges facing the next US president clearly demonstrates the impact that developments in Washington have on the rest of the planet. Here is a review of some of them.
Israel
With Vice President Kamala Harris nominated as a possible replacement for Joe Biden, Israelis on Sunday tried to determine what her candidacy would mean for their country, which faces growing global isolation over its military campaign against Hamas.
The left-wing Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an article analyzing Harris’ record of support for Israel and mentioned her reputation as a “bad cop” to Biden, who has publicly condemned Israel’s offensive on Gaza. In recent months, he has gone further than Biden in calling for a ceasefire, condemning Israel’s invasion of Rafah and expressing shock at the deaths of civilians in Gaza.
“With Biden gone, Israel may have lost its last Zionist president,” said Aaron Pincus, a former Israeli consul general in New York. “A new Democratic candidate will change that dynamic.”
Biden’s unwavering defense of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack stems from his half-century of support for Israel as a senator, vice president and president. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant thanked Biden for his “unwavering support for Israel over the years.”
“Your unwavering support, especially during a time of war, is invaluable,” Galante wrote on the X social network.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog praised Biden as “a symbol of the unbreakable bond between our peoples” and a “true ally of the Jewish people.” There was no initial reaction from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an ally of former President Donald Trump whose previous friendly relations with Biden came under pressure during the war between Israel and Hamas.
Ukraine
Any Democratic candidate is likely to continue Biden’s tradition of strong military support for Ukraine. But in Kiev and Europe, frustration is growing over the Biden administration’s slow pace of U.S. aid and restrictions on the use of Western weapons.
“Most Europeans realize that Ukraine will increasingly become a burden for them,” said Suda David Wilp, director of the German Marshall Fund’s Berlin office. “Everyone is trying to prepare for every possible outcome.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this about our country”.
Trump has pledged to end Russia’s war in Ukraine within a day if elected, sparking fears in Ukraine that Russia will be allowed to retain territory it has occupied.
Further raising the stakes for Kyiv, Trump’s vice presidential nominee, Ohio Senator Cyrus Vance, is one of the most vocal members of Congress against U.S. aid to Ukraine.
Russia, For his part, he downplayed the U.S. action and insisted that Moscow would continue to pressure Ukraine no matter what.
“The Biden era is over,” Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s No. 2 on the Security Council, chaired by Putin, said on the Telegram messaging app. “The goals of the special military operation will be achieved,” he added, using the Kremlin’s term for its war on Ukraine.
China
In recent months, both Biden and Trump have sought to show voters who can best stand up to China’s growing military power and assertiveness and protect American businesses and workers from cheap Chinese imports. Biden has raised tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, while Trump has pledged to impose a 60% tariff on all Chinese goods.
Trump’s “America First” mantra heightened tensions with Beijing. But disputes with the economic giant and geopolitical rival over war, trade, technology and security continue under Biden.
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