An Assessment of the Biden Foreign Policy Doctrine: The Case of Iran and Korea

• In Event: The Personal Presidency

Abstract

The Biden Administration pullout from Afghanistan in 2021,although seemingly ending the 20 year commitment from the United States ,did not end the global war on terrorism where threats continued to exist in South Asia and the Middle East.Currently there are serious problems brewing in Iran and North Korea which might be addressed with more creative diplomacy although it appears unlikely to occur.

There has been no follow through on President Biden's pledge to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action[JCPOA] in part due to a lack of urgency as well as flexibility in effectively pursuing a new agreement,and North Korea remains stuck in the past as U.S. officials recite mantras about denuclearization which have become increasingly fictional.
Iran has only accelerated its enrichment of uranium to potentially make four nuclear weapons while obstructing the work of nuclear inspectors.In terms of Korea,the Biden Administration declared in 2021 that it would pursue a calibrated practical approach to dealing diplomatically with Kim's regime,yet Kim Jong Un has refused both public as well as private requests for negotiations,and he has expanded his nuclear arsenal and ballistic missile program.The once solid U.S-based sanctions regime against North Korea has seriously weakened and the Biden Administration has been unable to build a solid coalition to condemn Kim's activities.

This paper will examine and assess the application of the Biden Foreign policy doctrine to date with respect to Iran and North Korea and focus on the significance of enhanced sanctions and the need for collaborative regional coalition diplomacy going forward.

Author

• Leonard Cutler, Siena College