den’s presidency that I hear from conservative friends is that he is weak on defense and our country is more vulnerable than ever.  

It is, in fact, a very threatening world. Let’s take a look at what our president has done about it.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a land war unseen in Europe since World War II. Hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded. Biden has been the leader reinvigorating a NATO alliance shaken by four years of threats from Donald Trump.  

NATO has stood strong in support of Ukraine with military and humanitarian aid – even while Republicans dithered in approving additional U.S. aid.  Finland and Sweden have joined NATO. Three other countries under the shadow of Russia’s threat want to join.

Or we could’ve had Trump. In May 2017, Trump disclosed classified information to Russia’s ambassador, potentially exposing the Israeli spy who risked his life to get the information. Two months later, he met with Vladimir Putin in private, confiscated the translator’s notes, then stood on a stage and said he trusted Putin’s denial of interference in U.S. elections.

In effect, Trump refuted the entire U.S. intelligence force in deference to Putin.

Robert Mueller’s investigation proved that Russia engaged in extensive attacks on the U.S. election system.  The investigation resulted in 34 indictments and eight convictions.  The investigation did not conclude that Trump’s campaign had worked with Russia but noted a conclusion wasn’t possible due to Trump’s obstruction.

Trump claims Russia would not have invaded Ukraine if he had still been in office. Who do you think convinced Putin a castrated NATO would let him invade without resistance?  

Who do you think all of Europe would prefer to stand with them in defense?

China economically and militarily is clearly seeking world dominance. North Korea continues to make nuclear threats. Biden has built an Asian coalition to collectively stand against this aggression. He has convinced Japan to become a stronger military power, something they’ve resisted since the end of WWII. Japan has joined the U.S. and South Korea in coordinated military planning and exercises. Statesmanship with Australia, India and Philippines has integrated these countries into an alliance that stands with the U.S.

Taiwan makes almost 90 percent of the world’s advanced computer chips.  Biden pushed through the CHIPS Act to encourage domestic production of the chips that our military needs for all of their equipment and guided munitions.  Biden pushed through the Infrastructure Act, which included incentives to develop domestic mining of related raw materials currently imported from China.

While president, Trump taunted North Korea’s leader as “little rocket man” and bragged that his nuclear button was bigger. He has also suggested the U.S. would abandon its 80-year-old commitment to help defend Taiwan unless Taiwan pays for its defense. 

Who do think all of democratic Asia would prefer to stand with them?

The world is praying the Gaza War doesn’t escalate into a Middle East War.  Since last fall, a U.S. aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Red Sea to protect commercial shipping from Houthi missile attacks. Almost daily, this carrier has just seconds to act to protect itself and commercial ships. This is the longest engagement of the U.S. Navy in active hostile operations since WWII.

This past April, Iran launched over 400 missiles and drones in an attack on Israel after one of their embassies was bombed to kill a terrorist. Almost all of these missiles were shot down by a military coalition of Israel, the U.S. and several Arab countries.

That unique coalition is the most important point to consider about our national defense. Building alliances makes the opposition to tyrants far more formidable.  That’s how two world wars were won and that’s what has kept a third world war from starting.

Building such alliances is hard work. It requires experience, insight into other countries’ concerns, and flexibility. All countries are ruled by self interest.  Building allies requires national humility to find win-win ties.  

In Trump’s world, you win and opponents lose.  You don’t compromise.  You use the force of money and legal threats to cheat your partners.

If we’re truly concerned about our national defense, we should be thanking God that Biden has been our president the past three years.