Joe Biden harshly criticizes Russia, Iran and China in his first speech to G7 Leaders

United States President Joe Biden stressed this Friday the importance of collaboration with allied countries during a speech in front of the G7 leaders (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom, in addition to the United States) at the Munich Security Conference.

In his first appearance before the international community after his inauguration, the president sent a message that had as its main premise the break with the isolationist policy marked by his predecessor, Donald Trump.

“The transatlantic alliance is back. America is back,” Biden declared.

“I am a man of my word. I am speaking to you today as President of the United States, at the very beginning of my administration, and I want to send this message: the transatlantic alliance is back. And we are not going to look back ”, he declared.

During his appearance, Biden stressed that China, Iran and Russia are the great “competitors” of the model that defends the Atlantic Alliance.

With respect to the Asian giant, he expressed “We have to prepare for a long-term strategic competition with China,” the president said. “It’s going to be tough. That is what I expect and that is what I wish,” he added, before asking Beijing to “play by the same rules” as the rest of the world.

“We have to respond to the economic abuses and coercion of the Chinese government that obstruct the foundations of the international economic system. The way in which the United States, Europe and Asia decide to work together to guarantee peace and defend our common values ​​will be one of the most important efforts that we will carry out,” he stressed.

“We have to protect individual property and creative genius derived from the exchange of ideas in a free and open society,” he added.

He was equally critical of Russia: He called on the Kremlin to refrain from resorting to intimidation tactics and allow countries to decide freely and “without threats” their own future.

Friday photo of US President Joe Biden speaking virtually at the Munich Security Conference from the White House.

“Their leaders try to describe us as if we are as corrupt as they are. But the world, including the Russian citizens themselves, knows that this is not true,” said Biden, before accusing the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, of trying to “weaken the European project and transatlantic unity,” because “it is much easier for the Kremlin to intimidate individual states than to negotiate with a united community.”

“The challenges with Russia are different from those with China, but they are just as important. This is not a showdown between East and West. We want a future where countries can choose their path without threats. We cannot return to the Cold War blocs” added the president, who has claimed the territorial integrity of Ukraine in the conflict between Kiev and the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

Additionally, Biden indicated on Friday that it is imperative that the United States work with other global powers to curb Iran’s “destabilizing activities” in the Middle East.

“We are prepared to re-engage in negotiations with the 5 + 1 group on Iran’s nuclear program,” he said. “We also have to deal with the destabilizing activities of Iran, and we will work closely with our partners in Europe and elsewhere as we move forward,” he added.

Photograph showing the video call of French President Emmanuel Macron, United States President Joe Biden, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the Munich Security Conference 2021.

On the other hand, Biden stressed to his allies the importance of strengthening the transatlantic alliance and backed his words with a commitment to uphold NATO’s mutual defense guarantee, known as Article 5, something former President Donald Trump initially refused to do while he was president. “We will keep faith in Article 5,” Biden said. “It is a guarantee. An attack on one is an attack on all. That is our unwavering vow”.

As a sample, Biden confirmed that he has halted the order issued by Trump to withdraw the US contingent in Germany, one of the foundations of the US military presence in Europe.

“Our relationship has endured and grown through the years because it is rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values. They are not transactional. They are not exclusive. They are based on a vision of the future in which every voice matters. Where the rights of all are protected and the rule of law is defended,” said the president.

President Joe Biden retired from the East Wing of the White House following his participation in the Munich Security Conference.

“The United States will work closely with our European partners and all countries on the continent,” said the US president in a speech in which he described a “turning point” in the history of world progress “among those who argue that, given all the challenges we face – from the fourth industrial revolution to a pandemic global – autocracy is the best way forward and those who understand that democracy is essential to face those challenges.”

In response, Biden offered an unmitigated defense of democratic values. “We have to show that democracies can deliver good results. This is our mission, in unity. Democracy does not happen by accident. We have to defend it. You have to fight for it, treasure it, renew it. I believe with every fiber of my being that democracy must prevail. We have to show that our model is not a relic,” said the US president.