Sullivan: ‘Proud of Our Transition to Trump as Foreign Threats Diminish’

WASHINGTON—On December 22, Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, commended President Joe Biden’s foreign policies, asserting that the next administration will take over a more robust America on the global stage against its rivals.

“America’s competitors and adversaries are more vulnerable and facing increased challenges than they have been,” Sullivan remarked.

He also highlighted that during his presidency, Biden successfully kept the nation out of armed conflict.

“It’s now up to [President-elect Donald Trump] how he navigates this landscape, but I feel proud of what we are passing on,” Sullivan added.

The Biden administration encountered numerous significant foreign policy hurdles, such as the tumultuous U.S. exit from Afghanistan in 2021, the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine that ignited with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the persistent conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was initiated by Hamas’s multi-faceted attack on Israel in October 2023.

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The president, often criticized for his response to these situations, expressed confidence that his foreign policy measures have undermined significant opponents, such as Russia and Iran.

Biden celebrated his achievements in a speech on December 8, asserting that his robust backing of Israel and Ukraine contributed to developments leading to the weakening of the Assad regime in Syria.

“For years, the primary supporters of Assad have been Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia. However, in the past week, their support has diminished—all three of them—because they are significantly weaker today than when I assumed office,” Biden remarked.

He pointed out that U.S. support for Israel has diminished Iran’s influence and that of its proxies, including Hezbollah and Hamas, while U.S. assistance to Ukraine has caused “substantial damage to Russian military forces.”

During the CNN discussion, Sullivan expressed concern regarding the resurgence of ISIS in Syria.

“ISIS exploits power vacuums,” he stated, emphasizing that the United States will continue aiding Kurdish fighters in the region to keep ISIS at bay.

Sullivan also believes that the current geopolitical climate presents Trump with opportunities, including the potential to address issues with Iran and China through diplomatic means.

He suggested that Trump could effectively manage competition with China.

Trump has repeatedly claimed during his campaign that he would hike tariffs on China to 60 percent.

Sullivan proposed that, given Iran’s weakened state, the new president might reconsider his stance on the country and pursue a nuclear agreement that limits its nuclear developments.

“He’s open to undertaking unexpected actions,” Sullivan remarked.

During his previous term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear deal established with Iran, reversing a significant foreign policy initiative by President Barack Obama.

Trump labeled it “the worst deal in history” and reinstated severe sanctions on Iran.

In a recent Time Magazine interview, Trump was asked about the possibility of conflict with Iran under his renewed administration.

“Anything can happen,” Trump replied. “It’s a highly unstable situation.”