Biden's foreign policy challenges in 2023: China, Russia and war in the Middle East

The Biden administration has faced a difficult year that ends with two major wars and China advancing its ambitions, but some experts praised the White House for embracing foreign policy again.

"We try to be proactive and to prevent conflict and crisis," Rubin said. "Most often than not, we are in a position like any country would be dealing with events as they are."  Rockets are fired toward Israel from the Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Oct. 23, 2023.  (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) Israeli tanks and other military vehicles move inside the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel. (Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein) Israel's military says this photo shows its troops operating inside the Gaza Strip Sunday, Nov. 5. (Israel Defense Forces via AP) People gather for a demonstration in support of Palestinians at Washington Square Park in New York City Nov. 24, 2023.  (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images) Ukraine President Zelenskyy holding his hands up with a Ukraine flag in the background (Viktor Kovalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) In this photo provided by the National Police of Ukraine, firefighters work to extinguish a fire after a Russian attack in the town of Uman, south of Kiev, Ukraine, April 28, 2023. (National Police of Ukraine via AP) President Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visit Saint Michael’s cathedral, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 20, 2023. (Reuters/Gleb Garanich) President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping walk together after a meeting during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders' week in Woodside, Callif., Nov. 15, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Australia-United Kingdom-U.S. partnership after a trilateral meeting at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego March 13, 2023.  (Reuters/Leah Millis) Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Aug. 24, 2023.  (Xie Huanchi/Xinhua via Getty Images) (L to R) South African President Jacob Zuma, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi, Guinea's President Alpha Conde, Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto, Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha pose for group photo before the Dialogue of Emerging Market and Developing Countries on the sidelines of the 2017 BRICS Summit in Xiamen, southeastern China's Fujian Province Sept. 5, 2017.  (Tyrone Siu/AFP via Getty Images) Peter Aitken is a Fox News Digital reporter with a focus on national and global news. 

Other experts were not so kind, calling Biden’s policy "an utter failure" when it came to Russia and Ukraine or arguing that Biden’s approach to the Middle East has only "emboldened" enemies.