Biden urges renewed efforts on Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China before Trump’s presidency

President Joe Biden is urging U.S. national security agencies to develop new strategies to address the increasingly concerning relationships among Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, ahead of Donald Trump‘s inauguration, as reported by U.S. officials.

In a national security memorandum released on Tuesday, Biden noted that Iran is assisting Russia in its military efforts in Ukraine, in return for which Moscow is providing Iran with fighter jets, missile defense systems, and space technology.

Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin is supplying North Korea with fuel, financial support, and technology, while also acknowledging it as a de facto nuclear power. The administration highlighted that Russia is engaging in joint patrols with China in the Arctic region.

Although the classified document was shared with reporters in broad terms, it has not been independently verified by Reuters. Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea have previously challenged similar evaluations and accused the U.S. of destabilizing actions.

Biden’s memorandum instructs various U.S. government sectors to reorganize their regional groups to more effectively address the interconnected issues involving these four nations across Europe and Asia. The strategies and policy recommendations outlined in the document may be adopted or dismissed by President-elect Trump, who will assume office on January 20.

A senior administration official, who requested anonymity, stated, “When the new team reviews it, I believe they will find nothing that constrains them or favors one policy direction over another.”

An additional official expressed the desire to establish “new options that will enable a fresh team and Congress to effectively commence their work.” The officials highlighted that the upcoming challenges involve ensuring that any sanctions and export controls imposed on the four nations are implemented in a coordinated manner to avoid potential backlash from those countries, as well as allowing the United States to manage multiple crises involving several of these nations more effectively. For example, North Korean troops are currently deployed in Russia.

“We are now in an environment where our adversaries and competitors are rapidly learning from each other,” one official remarked. However, another official pointed out the limitations of cooperation among these countries, noting that Russia and Iran have not provided support to their ally Bashar al-Assad, the former Syrian president who was ousted over the weekend. “This realignment raises questions for China regarding the future it envisions and whether it truly intends to fully commit to this coalition,” the official stated.