US President Joe Biden faces a multitude of crises abroad and at home, where critics accuse him of 'weakness' in the face of Washington's rivals Brendan Smialowski AFP
France 24: Biden battles accusations of 'weakness' against US rivals
Washington (AFP) – Is Joe Biden "weak" in the face of Russia, Iran or North Korea? This is the accusation leveled by opponents of the US president, who is trying to balance a firm hand with pragmatism to overcome multiple international crises and focus on a rising China.
"Is it any surprise that Chinese planes are flying over Taiwan? Or that North Korea is testing missiles again? Or that Iran is ramping up its nuclear program? They all sense Biden's weakness," Nikki Haley, who served as UN ambassador under Donald Trump, tweeted this week, summing up grievances of Republican hawks.
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WNU Editor: If this question was asked to me before the Afghan disaster my response would have been no. President Biden was establishing himself in the White House, and his foreign and national security team was just formed and were indicating what were the administration's international priorities for the coming year.
Countries like Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea had adopted a wait and see altitude, while America's allies gave President Biden were relieved that he was not Trump that was then upgraded to approval after the G7 summit in the summer, and President Biden's summit with Russian President Putin in Switzerland.
The Afghan disaster and the Biden administration's response to it change everything.
America's allies were not consulted thereby creating disunity in the alliance, and President Biden's own response showed a President out of touch and in some cases incoherent.
America's adversaries took notice, and they are now taking advantage of what they see is a weak President who they also now believe is exhibiting cognitive difficulties.
In foreign policy perception and optics plays a critical role in getting things done. President Biden will need to change this perception, and change it fast.