Lame duck? How Biden announcement could affect US foreign relations

After last Sunday's bombshell decision not to seek re-election, Joe Biden still has six months left as the US president and commander-in-chief, and foreign leaders could be expected to write him off as a lame duck.

- Andrew Roth

Around the world, heads of government and top diplomats had been preparing for a sea change in US policy under a potential Donald Trump administration, guided by his America First views that are broadly sceptical of Europe, unsympathetic toward Ukraine, hawkish on China and pro-Israel.

But by abandoning a losing campaign, Biden may have a chance to pass on his legacy to a next Democratic administration - if his party can quickly regroup around a new ticket that can make it competitive in November.

"I actually think the announcement puts [Biden] in a stronger position, because the likelihood of continuity of policy into a Democratic administration is more likely now," said Kori Schake, the director of foreign and defence policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and a former national security council and state department official during the George W Bush administration.