Joe Biden is making the world a more dangerous place

Less than a year into the Biden presidency the world suddenly is a very chaotic place. The hasty and botched US exit from Afghanistan has created a terrorist-led state. Iran is ploughing forward with its nuclear plans. Russia has leverage over European energy supplies. Communist China is no longer hiding its totalitarian nature and global ambitions. And yet the US, UK, Germany and other major democracies seem more concerned about climate change and what may or may not happen 100 or more years from now than tackling the very serious threats to the free world’s national security today.

This dangerous moment is what the late George Shultz dubbed a ‘hinge of history’, when political leaders either prepare to face new threats or do nothing, hoping a conflict won’t erupt on their watch. Passivity should not be an option. This is not the world of five, 10 or 20 years ago; it is potentially a far more lethal game, with a multitude of complex threats — some of which are already inside our borders.