WASHINGTON: Less than two weeks in office, President Joe Biden is facing two critical tests of whether the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol has damaged Americas standing as a beacon for democracy.
Protests in Russia and a military coup in Myanmar come as American credibility on the world stage has plummeted after last months storming of the Capitol by a pro-Donald Trump mob looking to stop the certification of Bidens election victory.
That adds to the weight on Biden as he seeks to fulfill a campaign pledge to dramatically reposition the U.S. as a global leader following four years of a Trump foreign policy driven by an America First mantra. That policy was marked by the frequent disparagement of democratic allies and the occasional embrace of authoritarian leaders.
Bidens top diplomat, Antony Blinken, acknowledged the difficulty.
I think theres no doubt that the attack on our own democracy on Jan. 6 creates an even greater challenge for us to be carrying the banner of democracy and…