In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has sought to spin criticism of his own lauded foreign policy starts as criticism of his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
Trump’s criticism of Biden as an advocate of slowing authoritarianism overlooks the latter’s decades of diplomacy in Latin America. In particular, Biden has been praised for leading the charge against dictators in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Biden has consistently stood for democracy in the region. As a senator, he championed the cause of democracy in Latin America, and helped fund non-governmental organizations to restore democracy while sanctioning repressive governments.
At the same time, Trump’s foreign policy agenda has been widely criticized for its isolationism, withdrawal from international organizations, and embrace of dictators such as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
This is best evidenced in Trump’s comments on the protests in Hong Kong – suggesting that the protesters should be allowed to peacefully demonstrate despite authoritarian rule from Beijing. Trump later backtracked from this sentiment, saying that the protests were a ‘separate matter’ from Hong Kong’s autonomy.
This inconsistency in regards to human rights and democracy promotion is concerning, and suggests that Trump’s foreign policy agenda is less focused on empowering democracy than it is on furthering his own political aims.
By playing the political game, Trump seeks to divert attention away from his own failures in foreign policy, while simultaneously attempting to paint his opponent in a negative light. However, it is important to acknowledge that Biden’s foreign policy record speaks for itself – one of advocating for democracy and defending human rights against oppressive rulers.
In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has sought to spin criticism of his own lauded foreign policy starts as criticism of his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.
Trump’s criticism of Biden as an advocate of slowing authoritarianism overlooks the latter’s decades of diplomacy in Latin America. In particular, Biden has been praised for leading the charge against dictators in Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Biden has consistently stood for democracy in the region. As a senator, he championed the cause of democracy in Latin America, and helped fund non-governmental organizations to restore democracy while sanctioning repressive governments.
At the same time, Trump’s foreign policy agenda has been widely criticized for its isolationism, withdrawal from international organizations, and embrace of dictators such as North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
This is best evidenced in Trump’s comments on the protests in Hong Kong – suggesting that the protesters should be allowed to peacefully demonstrate despite authoritarian rule from Beijing. Trump later backtracked from this sentiment, saying that the protests were a ‘separate matter’ from Hong Kong’s autonomy.
This inconsistency in regards to human rights and democracy promotion is concerning, and suggests that Trump’s foreign policy agenda is less focused on empowering democracy than it is on furthering his own political aims.
By playing the political game, Trump seeks to divert attention away from his own failures in foreign policy, while simultaneously attempting to paint his opponent in a negative light. However, it is important to acknowledge that Biden’s foreign policy record speaks for itself – one of advocating for democracy and defending human rights against oppressive rulers.
