International
2023, a year of domestic and foreign policy challenges for the White House
December 31 |
The third year of Democrat Joe Biden’s administration in the United States was marked by challenges, both in the domestic arena and in foreign policy.
Intense negotiations with the Republican caucus in Congress, summits, a surprise visit to war-torn Kiev, strained relations with China and Russia and growing turmoil in the Middle East were some of the milestones of 2023 for the White House, which also featured colorful moments in a year that serves as a prelude to the crucial 2024 where the US will decide who will be the next president.
In February, during his trip to Europe to mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Joe Biden surprised the world with a visit to Kiev, kept secret until the last moment.
The images of Biden and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, walking as anti-aircraft sirens blared were memorable. It was the first time in modern history that a U.S. president had traveled to a country at war without a U.S. military presence. With this, the Democratic president showed that he was serious about “unwavering support” for Ukraine vis-à-vis Russia.
The controversial immigration issue, the economy and foreign policy were among the central themes of Biden’s second State of the Union address since he became president.
The Democratic leader emphasized the need to pass the immigration reform he proposed before Congress and called for unity in the face of the economic challenge posed by the war in Ukraine, while praising his administration’s achievements in managing inflation, fuel prices, wage stability and job growth.
The division in Congress, with the Senate in the hands of Democrats and a polarized House with a slight Republican majority, has led to differences with the Democratic administration, which has translated into resistance to legislation and packages presented by Biden before lawmakers.
The far-right wing of the Republican Party has been a thorn in the President’s side. The battle to reach an agreement to prevent the country from defaulting on its debt, postponed until January 2025, was followed by the negotiation to keep the government open – postponed until the beginning of 2024 -, and now the refusal of Republicans to approve an emergency package with funds for Ukraine and Israel if immigration policy is not tightened, particularly on the southern border.
Just before the year-end recess, the House voted and approved formally initiating an investigation to determine a possible impeachment of Biden. The investigation will be aimed at determining whether the President and his son Hunter Biden colluded to benefit from Biden’s contracts with foreign companies during Biden’s time as Vice President.
In April, President Joe Biden announced that he would run for re-election in 2024, clearing up doubts as to whether the Democratic leader would return to fight for the White House or leave the way open to other aspirants of his party.
Age is one of the most sensitive issues facing the 81-year-old veteran politician. In his campaign, Biden has focused on highlighting the achievements of his first term, his career as a legislator and more recently, he has insisted that he is the best alternative to his predecessor Donald Trump, going so far as to point out that he would not have thought of running again had it not been for the “threat to democracy” that a second Trump term would mean.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visits to Washington served as material evidence of the Biden administration’s backing for Kiev in its war against Russia. Zelenskyy made two trips to the U.S. in 2023, both in the space of three months and coinciding with discussions in Congress on aid to the Ukrainian cause.
Zelenskyy has been received at the White House three times since the Russian invasion began in February 2022. The first visit this year was in September, following his participation in the United Nations General Assembly. The second was in December, returning from Zelenskyy’s first trip to Latin America after the start of the war. In total, Biden and Zelenskyy have met in person seven times during the U.S. president’s administration.
In a historic moment in 2023, seven Latin American heads of state arrived in Washington to meet with President Joe Biden at the first edition of the Leaders’ Summit of the Partnership for Economic Prosperity of the Americas.
Biden and his counterparts from Costa Rica, Uruguay, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Canada and Barbados, announced new joint strategies that will guarantee the investment of millions of dollars in sustainable projects, human capital formation and migration solutions for the region.
In addition, Biden announced a new investment platform that will channel “billions of dollars into building sustainable infrastructure”, organized by the US government and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
Echoes of Israel’s all-out war against Hamas in Gaza following the surprise attacks of October 7 have reached the other side of the world. The US, Tel Aviv’s main ally, was quick to show its support for the Israeli forces, although more than a month after the start of the campaign against the militant group, the discourse has changed.
From irresolute support, the Biden administration maintains its position that Israel has the right to defend itself but has now called on the Israeli government to be more precise in its attacks. According to the health ministry in Gaza, bombings against Hamas have already killed more than 18,000 Palestinians and displaced thousands in the enclave, home to some 2.3 million people.
International pressure weighs on Tel Aviv, while at home, President Joe Biden faces criticism from his Muslim voters, one year before the 2024 presidential election.
It was not all high-level meetings and negotiations at the White House. In 2023, the presidential residence celebrated the nation’s top traditions and opened its gardens for Americans to tour the history and of the iconic mansion in both spring and fall.
From the traditional Thanksgiving two-turkey pardoning ceremony, holiday decorations, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree to an ice skating rink for children of public servants, front-line military workers and school children, the White House also wanted to mark festive moments in the year.
International
U.S. warns China over Taiwan during high-level defense talks in Kuala Lumpur
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth expressed concerns over China’s growing military activity near Taiwan during a meeting on Friday with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Kuala Lumpur.
“It was a constructive and positive meeting,” Hegseth wrote on X. “I emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and raised U.S. concerns about China’s actions around Taiwan,” the self-governed island that Beijing claims and does not rule out invading.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea. According to Trump, Taiwan was not discussed during their talks.
“The United States does not seek conflict and will continue to firmly defend its interests, ensuring it maintains the capability to do so in the region,” Hegseth added in his message.
Friday’s encounter followed a September 9 video call between Hegseth and Dong. Their previously planned meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore was canceled due to Dong’s absence from the event.
Trump’s sit-down with Xi — their first since 2019 — resulted in some trade agreements but avoided addressing the issue of Taiwan, a long-standing source of tension between the world’s two largest powers.
Trump has taken a more ambiguous stance on Taiwan’s future compared with former President Joe Biden, who repeatedly stated that Washington would support Taipei if China launched an invasion. The Republican president has also criticized Taiwan for “stealing” the U.S. semiconductor industry.
International
U.S. considering airstrikes on military sites in Venezuela, reports say
The United States may soon carry out airstrikes on military facilities inside Venezuela as part of an escalating offensive against Nicolás Maduro’s regime, according to reports Friday from the Miami Herald and The Wall Street Journal, citing sources close to the Trump administration.
Airstrikes could take place “within days or even hours,” the Herald reported. The Journal noted that while the option is under serious consideration, President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on authorizing strikes on Venezuelan soil.
Potential targets allegedly include military-controlled ports and airports used in drug trafficking operations, such as naval installations and airstrips, officials told the Journal.
The Herald also quoted a source saying that “Maduro’s time is running out”, suggesting that more than one Venezuelan general may be ready to detain and hand him over. However, officials declined to confirm whether the Venezuelan leader would be among the military targets.
Trump has repeatedly vowed to block the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, following nearly two months of airstrikes against vessels in the Pacific and the Caribbean. Those operations have destroyed 15 boats and left 61 people dead and three survivors since September 1.
“We are finally waging a war against the cartels — a war like they’ve never seen before — and we are going to win that battle. We are already winning at sea,” Trump told U.S. troops during a speech in Japan.
The reports on possible airstrikes come on the same day the United Nations accused the U.S. of violating international law with its maritime operations, saying those killed at sea may have been victims of extrajudicial executions.
International
Pope Leo XIV revives Global Compact on Education to confront cultural crisis
Pope Leo XIV announced on Friday that he will revive and update the Global Compact on Education, an initiative launched by the late Pope Francis aimed at deeply transforming global culture through education.
The announcement was made during an audience in St. Peter’s Square, held on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Educational World, which this week gathers more than 20,000 participants from 124 countries in Rome.
During his address, the pontiff — who is of U.S. origin and Peruvian nationality — emphasized the importance of restoring the value of educators and reinforcing the principles that support the pact.
“We must be careful: damaging the social and cultural role of educators means mortgaging our own future,” he warned before thousands in attendance. “A crisis in the transmission of knowledge leads to a crisis of hope.”
The Global Compact on Education, launched by Pope Francis, seeks an integral and long-term cultural transformation. It is structured around five pillars: dignity and human rights; fraternity and cooperation; technology and integral ecology; education for peace and citizenship; and culture and religions. To date, the initiative has been joined by over 553 schools and nearly 410,000 students, according to Catholic Schools data.
Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern over the widespread inner fragility affecting both students and teachers — many of whom feel overwhelmed by bureaucratic burdens.
He additionally addressed the role of artificial intelligence in education, warning that it may worsen emotional isolation among learners: “It can further isolate students who are already isolated, giving them the illusion that they do not need others — or worse, the feeling that they are unworthy of them,” he said.
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