Biden approves document on national security related to four rival US countries

2024-12-11 21:21:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Biden approves document on national security related to four rival US countries

US President Joe Biden

President Joe Biden has approved a new national security document ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House. The document could serve as a guide for the incoming administration amid its apparent efforts to counter growing cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. The news was announced on Wednesday by the White House.

Biden administration officials began work on drafting the guidelines this summer. According to two senior administration officials, the document was drafted in the form of a guideline that could help the next administration build from day one on its approach to how it will handle difficult relations with countries America's greatest adversaries and competitors.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the secret document would not be made public because of the sensitivity of some of the findings contained in it.

The document contains four broad recommendations such as: improving interagency cooperation within the US government, accelerating the exchange of information with allies about the four adversary countries, calibrating actions in the use of sanctions and other economic tools by the US government to ensure effectiveness maximum as well as strengthening preparedness to manage simultaneous crises related to adversaries.

For many years the United States has been concerned about cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Coordination between them has accelerated as a result of the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022.

US officials noted that at a time when Russia is isolated from much of the world, Moscow has turned to Iran for drones and missiles.

From North Korea, Russia has provided artillery, missiles and even thousands of troops have joined the Russian troops to help them in their efforts to repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region.

China, meanwhile, has supported Russia with dual-use components that have helped it maintain its military industry.

In return, Russia has sent warplanes to Iran and aided Tehran in its efforts to strengthen missile defense systems and space technology.

North Korea has received much-needed fuel and funding from Russia to help build its manufacturing and military capabilities.

US officials added that Russia has "de facto recognized North Korea as a nuclear-armed country".

Meanwhile, China is benefiting from Russian expertise, and Moscow and Beijing are working together to deepen their military-technical cooperation. They are also conducting joint patrols in the Arctic region.

President Biden and President-elect Trump have different worldviews, but officials from both the outgoing and incoming administrations said they have sought to coordinate national security issues during the transition.

One of the officials said that with this document the White House "is not trying to make the Trump administration's job more difficult or to steer it toward a certain option."

The official said the document aims to help the incoming administration build "capacity" as it shapes its approach to some of the more difficult foreign policy issues it will face./VOA