Washington may well change for the better

Donald Trump will assume the American presidency 20 January 2025. Biden's tenure was impacted by his age and slowing mental abilities, thereby opening doors for the deep state, largely composed of individuals who were part of the Obama administration, to push decisions.

- HARSHA KAKAR

Biden's presidency was marked by the US backing wrong conflicts, ignoring essential threats and attempting to pressurize allies.

Possibly most of the decisions were not those of Biden, but thrust down on him by the deep state, the very institution Trump vows to eradicate. Trump has also faced the power of the deep state during the past four years, when court cases were piled against him, as also during campaigning, when media coverage was biased.

Whether he will succeed in dismantling it, especially as it remains deeply entrenched within the US government, is a question.

Entering the Ukraine war by pumping funds and weapons, and hoping to bring the Russian economy down was a major Biden blunder.

Russia has not collapsed, Ukraine has not thrown the Russians out, and Europe is not safer. On the contrary, despite sanctions, Russia remains resilient, supported by China, North Korea and Iran. The nexus of these four is now a threat to Eurasia. The China-Russia combine was given a boost by the Biden administration.

The entry of North Korea into the war and the Russia-North Korea comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which the US failed to read or prevent, has ensured Pyongyang's survival and no future US government can bring it to heel unless relations with Russia are reversed. Despite all the influx of weapons and funds, the war drags on, in favour of Moscow.

Ukraine's Zelenskky has been falsely claiming that victory is around the corner, whereas the reality is that Ukraine is struggling to hold on to its frontlines, while its population is weary of the conflict.