Staff Reports
As the world remains engulfed in multiple crises, the Biden administration has seemingly decided to team up with officials from the Trump transition. The goal? To keep a tight grip on precarious hotspots like Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine before Trump earns back his Oval Office key. Who knew bipartisanship still existed in U.S. foreign policy?
Immediately following the election, Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan quietly met with Florida Congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s designated National Security Advisor. Rather than engaging in a typical transition spat, both parties are apparently uniting. Their expressed aim is to prevent hostile nations from having a field day during this political handoff. It sounds oddly comforting, like a babysitter watching over a bunch of rowdy kids—except the kids are countries with nuclear weapons and factions eager to take advantage of any perceived weakness.
Biden administration, Trump team work closely to handle global crises together during transition https://t.co/W8VkbPlGrw
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) January 13, 2025
In a moment reminiscent of diplomatic soap operas, the officials from both administrations emphasized their cooperation. CIA Director Bill Burns made reference to ceaseless negotiation efforts around a ceasefire between Israel and the Hamas fighters, remarkably noting that the Biden administration’s forward-looking strategy still accommodates Trump’s insights, even if the presidential campaign was filled with policy clashes. Is this the approach needed to end such multifaceted conflicts, or just a game of political charades?
As expected, Trump isn’t taking the threat of hostages lightly. With his customary flair, he promised that “there will be ALL HELL TO PAY in the Middle East” if the hostages aren’t returned before he takes office. Such statements, dripping with his trademark bravado, could either instill fear in those holding hostages or simply fuel international gamesmanship. Which side would place bets on the latter?
Meanwhile, amidst the chaos in Ukraine, the Trump team is gearing up for what could be President Trump’s most formidable challenge yet. Trump’s bold claim to have arranged a meeting with none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised eyebrows. He assured a gathering of Republican governors that discussions would settle the ongoing war. Perhaps this meeting might serve as a precursor to some of the trickier negotiations awaiting the United States after January 20.
Shifting gears to a success story, Lebanon has taken a promising step forward by electing a new president who claims to disarm Hezbollah. General Joseph Aoun’s arrival on the political scene has been lauded by both the Biden and Trump camps, a collaboration fueled by their mutual desire to stifle the military influence of Hezbollah in the region. The unified goal here? To create a more secure environment while maintaining a ceasefire with Israel.
As Aoun takes the reins, he has voiced his commitment to not only respect the ceasefire with Israel but to obliterate Hezbollah’s influence as well. Whether or not Lebanon becomes a shining example of stability in the Middle East remains to be seen, but the combined efforts of the outgoing Biden administration and the incoming Trump team may just be what the chaotic Middle East needs—a solid dose of unlikely teamwork. After all, when it comes to foreign policy, a little cooperation, even if it’s overshadowed by political rivalry, could turn out to be the silver lining.
