The first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump offered little reassurance for the United States' anxious allies.
The two candidates presented distinctly different visions for how to address the world's pressing challenges, from multiple ongoing conflicts to rising geopolitical tensions and doubts about America's commitment to its longtime partners.
While those contrasts were occasionally on display during the debate, it was Biden's uneven performance that dominated the headlines.
The debate was watched closely around the world - by allies concerned about the future of their U.S. ties, as well as by autocratic governments seeking to rival the U.S.-led global order. Ultimately, neither candidate appeared to impress.
"Personal attacks, hazy memory, mocking each other... this debate was very entertaining for many Chinese people," said Hu Xijin, a nationalist Chinese commentator, in a social media post. "Objectively speaking, the low-quality performance of these two old men was a negative advertisement for Western democracy."
The focus, however, was largely on Biden, whose shaky performance has already prompted calls from within his party for him to reconsider his campaign.
The prospect of Trump's return to the White House alarms many U.S. allies in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, as their relationships with Washington were often strained during his previous term.
The Sydney Morning Herald published an opinion article with the headline "Trump outperformed Biden. The Democrats face challenges with Joe."
The Sun's website featured a single word at the top on Friday: "BIDEN-BASHED."
According to Robinder Sachdev, president of the Delhi-based think tank Imagindia Institute and a founder of the nonprofit U.S.-India Political Action Committee, Biden's "low voice, rasping and meandering" delivery failed to persuade American voters and international viewers, including those in India, as reported by NBC News.
Former British ambassador to the U.S. during Trump's presidency, Kim Darroch, expressed skepticism about Biden's chances of winning, stating that it is "very hard to see him winning now."
Darroch further suggested on BBC Radio Four's "Today" program that Biden should step aside, criticizing his performance as historically poor, marked by inaudibility, incoherence, and nonsensical answers.
Policy clashes
During his presidency, President Biden has sought to promote U.S. global leadership and strengthen relationships with allies around the world. This approach is particularly notable in response to growing challenges from China and Russia.
In contrast, former President Trump has expressed admiration for autocratic leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump has favored a more withdrawn role for the U.S., with a greater focus on domestic issues.
In the recent presidential debate, the foreign policy discussion centered on the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Biden criticized Trump's approach to Putin, while Trump argued that Biden's policies on Israel effectively made him a "very bad Palestinian."
On the Ukraine conflict, Trump stated that he would not accept the terms of Russia keeping the Ukrainian territory it has already gained and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should stop pushing for Ukraine to join NATO. Trump claimed he could settle the war between Putin and Zelenskyy before taking office, though he did not provide specifics.
Additionally, Trump criticized the significant U.S. military aid provided to Ukraine since the 2022 Russian invasion, which Zelenskyy has said is crucial for victory. Trump argued that European countries closer to the conflict should provide more financial aid to Ukraine.
In a recent statement, President Biden said that Russian President Putin has made it clear that he is seeking to re-establish the Soviet empire. Biden warned that it would be foolish for former President Trump to rein in support for Ukraine, as this may only be the start of Putin's territorial ambitions.
"He wants all of Ukraine. That's what he wants," Biden said. "And then do you think he'll stop there? Do you think he'll stop if he takes Ukraine? What do you think happens to Poland?"
Poland is a member of NATO, whose 32 member states have pledged to defend each other in the event of an attack. Trump has threatened to pull out of the 75-year-old alliance unless those nations spend more on defense, saying "We're paying everybody's bills."
Both Biden and Trump expressed strong support for Israel. Trump claimed that Israel "would have never been invaded" if he were president, a statement that cannot be verified. Trump also accused Biden of not supporting Israel enough, saying "he's become like a Palestinian, but they don't like him because he's a very bad Palestinian."
Biden's cease-fire plan for the conflict in Gaza has stalled, leading to a loss of support from the left over the devastating toll on civilians in the densely populated area. Pushing back against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's claim that the U.S. has been withholding weapons, Biden said the U.S. had provided Israel "with all the weapons they need and when they need them," except 2,000-pound bombs that Biden said "don't work very well in populated areas" and "kill a lot of innocent people."
Biden also claimed that the U.S. had coordinated the international defense of Israel during Iranian missile strikes in April, in which no one was killed. "We saved Israel. We are the biggest producer of support for Israel of anyone in the world," said Biden.
Both contenders expressed concerns that if the other were to win the election, it could potentially lead to a global conflict of catastrophic proportions.
According to Trump, he criticized Biden's military strategies, labeling them as irrational. He further emphasized that ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas would never find resolution under Biden's leadership. Trump also asserted that influential world leaders like Xi, Putin, and Kim do not hold respect or fear towards Biden.
In response, Biden accused Trump of provoking war and suggested that if Putin were allowed to proceed with taking Kyiv, it would inevitably result in a full-scale war. Additionally, Biden defended America's international reputation, refuting Trump's claim that it was a failing nation. Instead, he argued that America was the object of envy for the rest of the world.
The debate surrounding America's global standing remained a topic of contention among world leaders on Friday.
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