in the red sea we protected civilian — in the red sea we protected civilian ships being attacked by the — civilian ships being attacked by the houthis. one of the world's_ by the houthis. one of the world's busiest waterways. and we strengthen partnerships all across— we strengthen partnerships all across the americas. defending democracy, targeting corruption, addressing migration. creating prosperity and protecting amazon rain forest — and protecting amazon rain forest which captures billions of tonnes, billions of tonnes of tonnes, billions of tonnes of carbon_ of tonnes, billions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, every— of carbon from the atmosphere, every year _ of carbon from the atmosphere, every year. overall, we reinvigorated people 's faith in the — reinvigorated people 's faith in the united states is a true partner _ in the united states is a true partner. today i can report to the american people, our adversaries are weaker than we were _ adversaries are weaker than we were when we came into thisjob four years — were when we came into thisjob four years ago, just consider russia _ four years ago, just consider russia. when putin invaded ukraine, _ russia. when putin invaded ukraine, he thought he conquered kyiv in a matter of days — conquered kyiv in a matter of days the _

conquered kyiv in a matter of days. the truth is, since the war— days. the truth is, since the war began, i'm the only one who stood _ war began, i'm the only one who stood in — war began, i'm the only one who stood in the centre of kyiv, putin — stood in the centre of kyiv, putin never would have. think atrout— putin never would have. think about it — about it. applause. it's a long train ride but i am the — it's a long train ride but i am the onty— it's a long train ride but i am the only commander—in—chief to have _ the only commander—in—chief to have visited a war zone not with — have visited a war zone not with american forces. now three years— with american forces. now three years later, putin has failed to achieve any of his strategic objectives. he has failed to subjugate great, failed to break— subjugate great, failed to break the unity of nato, failed to make — break the unity of nato, failed to make large territorial gains _ to make large territorial gains. there's more to do, we can't — gains. there's more to do, we can't walk_ gains. there's more to do, we can't walk away. we rallied 15 nations — can't walk away. we rallied 15 nations to _ can't walk away. we rallied 15 nations to stand with ukraine, not nations to stand with ukraine, hotiust— nations to stand with ukraine, hotiust irr— nations to stand with ukraine, notjust in europe but for the first— notjust in europe but for the first time _ notjust in europe but for the first time in asia as well. those _ first time in asia as well. those countries in asia know what — those countries in asia know what happens in ukraine matters to them — what happens in ukraine matters to them as well. we delivered

interceptors, massive numbers interce ptors, massive numbers of the — interceptors, massive numbers of the munitions and acted —— and _ of the munitions and acted —— and acted _ of the munitions and acted —— and acted unprecedented sanctions. no russia is struggling to replace what they are losing on the battlefield. in are losing on the battlefield. in terms— are losing on the battlefield. in terms of military equipment and fighters, and the rouble is under— and fighters, and the rouble is under enormous pressure. as i thought, — under enormous pressure. as i thought, when putin launched his invasion i had twojobs — ohe — his invasion i had twojobs — one to — his invasion i had twojobs — one to rally the world and defend _ one to rally the world and defend ukraine, the other to avoid — defend ukraine, the other to avoid wer— defend ukraine, the other to avoid war between two nuclear powers — avoid war between two nuclear powers. we did both those things _ powers. we did both those things. today, ukraine is still free _ things. today, ukraine is still free independent country, with the potential, potential for a bright — the potential, potential for a bright future. if we lay the foundation in the next administration so they can protect— administration so they can protect the bright future of the ukrainian people. and now look— the ukrainian people. and now took at — the ukrainian people. and now look at iran. did you ever think— look at iran. did you ever think we'd be where we are with

iran think we'd be where we are with iron at— think we'd be where we are with iron at this _ think we'd be where we are with iran at this moment? after those — iran at this moment? after those despicable attacks by harhes— those despicable attacks by hamas on october 7, iran directty— hamas on october 7, iran directly attacked israel twice. with— directly attacked israel twice. with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, and twice they— missiles and drones, and twice they failed because the united states— they failed because the united states organised a coalition of countries _ states organised a coalition of countries to stop them. and ordered _ countries to stop them. and ordered us aircraft to come to the defence of israel. now, irah's— the defence of israel. now, irah's air— the defence of israel. now, iran's air defences are in shambles. their main proxy, hezbollah, is badly wounded, and hezbollah, is badly wounded, ahd as— hezbollah, is badly wounded, and as we tested iran's willingness to revive the nuctear— willingness to revive the nuclear deal, we kept the pressure of sanctions. now irah's— pressure of sanctions. now iran's economy is in desperate straits — iran's economy is in desperate straits all_ iran's economy is in desperate straits. all told, iran is weaker— straits. all told, iran is weaker than it's been in decades. and if you want more evidence, _ decades. and if you want more evidence, seriously weakened iran evidence, seriously weakened irah and — evidence, seriously weakened iran and russia, just take a look— iran and russia, just take a took at _ iran and russia, just take a look at syria. president assad,

both— look at syria. president assad, both country'sclosest allies in the middle east, neither could keep— the middle east, neither could keep him in power. quite frankly, _ keep him in power. quite frankly, neither really tried reatty — frankly, neither really tried really hard. i cannot claim credit— really hard. i cannot claim credit for— really hard. i cannot claim credit for every effect of russia _ credit for every effect of russia and iran growing weaker, they did — russia and iran growing weaker, they did plenty of damage themselves. but israel did plenty— themselves. but israel did plenty of damage to iran and its proxies. our actions contributed significantly and now — contributed significantly and now major authoritarian states are aligning more closely with one another. iran, russia, china, _ one another. iran, russia, china, north korea. that's more a weakness _ china, north korea. that's more a weakness then out of strength. as this new administration begins, the united _ administration begins, the united states is in a fundamentally stronger position with respect to these countries. then we were four years— countries. then we were four years ago _ countries. then we were four years ago. today, i can report to the _ years ago. today, i can report to the american people we're in

better— to the american people we're in better strategic position in the long term competition with china _ the long term competition with china then we were when i took office — china then we were when i took office you _ china then we were when i took office. you all recall, experts believing _ office. you all recall, experts believing or predicting it was inevitable that china's economy would _ inevitable that china's economy would surpass ours. according to nrany— would surpass ours. according to many predictions that would happen— to many predictions that would happen by the year 2030 or shortly— happen by the year 2030 or shortly thereafter. but we in this room _ shortly thereafter. but we in this room said no. we make the investments in ourselves, we protect— investments in ourselves, we protect our workers and technologies. that will not happen _ technologies. that will not happen. according to latest predictions, on china's current course, — predictions, on china's current course, they will never surpass us. course, they will never surpass us i_ course, they will never surpass us~ i met — course, they will never surpass us. i met one—on—one with president _ us. i met one—on—one with president xi. we've always been direct— president xi. we've always been direct and — president xi. we've always been direct and straightforward with each _ direct and straightforward with each other. i made it clear. we expect— each other. i made it clear. we expect china and everyone to abide — expect china and everyone to abide by— expect china and everyone to abide by the international rules _ abide by the international rules. and so we stood up against _

rules. and so we stood up against unfair trade practices, taking — against unfair trade practices, taking action when china dumped subsidise — taking action when china dumped subsidise goods, incredibly subsidised to undercut our workers _ subsidised to undercut our workers. we impose target tariffs _ workers. we impose target tariffs in _ workers. we impose target tariffs in critical sectors tike _ tariffs in critical sectors like cars, steel and semiconductors, ratherthan semiconductors, rather than across—the—board tariffs. semiconductors, ratherthan across—the—board tariffs. we imposed _ across—the—board tariffs. we imposed a historic export controts _ imposed a historic export controls and investment restrictions to ensure that china _ restrictions to ensure that china cannot, cannot use the most — china cannot, cannot use the most advanced technology and sensitive — most advanced technology and sensitive data against us. critically, we listed our allies— critically, we listed our allies and partners to join us. there — allies and partners to join us. there were convergence above our allies — there were convergence above our allies and a shared approach to china than ever existed _ approach to china than ever existed. and showing it's more effective — existed. and showing it's more effective to deal with china alongside partners rather than going — alongside partners rather than doing it — alongside partners rather than going it alone. but even while we compete vigorously, we've managed _ we compete vigorously, we've managed our relationship with china — managed our relationship with china responsibly, so it has never—

china responsibly, so it has never tipped over into conflict. we created lines of communication between resident xi and _ communication between resident xi and myself, and between the leaders — xi and myself, and between the leaders of our military to avoid _ leaders of our military to avoid misunderstanding. we found — avoid misunderstanding. we found ways to work with each other — found ways to work with each other to _ found ways to work with each other to address climate change, to reduce the flow of fentanyt— change, to reduce the flow of fe nta nyl into change, to reduce the flow of fentanyl into the united states, which, by the way, overdose _ states, which, by the way, overdose deaths are coming down across _ overdose deaths are coming down across our— overdose deaths are coming down across our nation. and in my administration we have seized more — administration we have seized more fentanyl at our border in two years— more fentanyl at our border in two years than the previous five — two years than the previous five years combined. today i can also— five years combined. today i can also report to the american people. — can also report to the american people. i— can also report to the american people, i was the first president in decades who is not teading — president in decades who is not leading a — president in decades who is not leading a war in afghanistan to a successor. —— leaving a war in afghanistan to a successor. i in afghanistan to a successor. i believe — in afghanistan to a successor. i believe that going forward, the primary threat of al-qaeda will no — the primary threat of al-qaeda will no longer be emanating from — will no longer be emanating from afghanistan. but from

elsewhere. and so we do not need — elsewhere. and so we do not need to— elsewhere. and so we do not need to station a sizeable number— need to station a sizeable number of american forces in afghanistan. when i took office i afghanistan. when i took office i have _ afghanistan. when i took office i have a — afghanistan. when i took office i have a choice, i saw no reason _ i have a choice, i saw no reason to— i have a choice, i saw no reason to think keep thousands of servicemen in afghanistan. i think— of servicemen in afghanistan. i think i— of servicemen in afghanistan. i think i have my schedule with me, _ think i have my schedule with me. and~~~ _ think i have my schedule with me, and... i don't have it, but i me, and... idon't have it, but ikeep— me, and... i don't have it, but i keep it— me, and... i don't have it, but i keep it in— me, and... i don't have it, but i keep it in the back of my car, the _ i keep it in the back of my car, the actual number of dead and wounded occurring in our tongest— and wounded occurring in our longest war to remind myself. we keep— longest war to remind myself. we keep spending hundreds of millions— we keep spending hundreds of millions of dollars a day and we are — millions of dollars a day and we are no— millions of dollars a day and we are no longer doing that. in my view, — we are no longer doing that. in my view, it _ we are no longer doing that. in my view, it was time to end the war and — my view, it was time to end the warand bring our my view, it was time to end the war and bring our food troops home — war and bring our food troops home and _ war and bring our food troops home and we did. i commend the courage _ home and we did. i commend the courage of— home and we did. i commend the courage of all those who served in afghanistan. we grieve all 2461— in afghanistan. we grieve all 2461 americans who made the ultimate — 2461 americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the longest war in american history _ longest war in american history. and i believe those brave — history. and i believe those brave servicemembers who lives were _ brave servicemembers who lives were lost — brave servicemembers who lives were lost during withdrawal, we

also think— were lost during withdrawal, we also think those inside and outside _ also think those inside and outside government have done so much _ outside government have done so much to— outside government have done so much to help thousands of afghan— much to help thousands of afghan families resettle in the united — afghan families resettle in the united states. remember, critics— united states. remember, critics said at the end of the war— critics said at the end of the war it — critics said at the end of the war it would damage our alliances. and create threats to our— alliances. and create threats to our homeland. from four directed _ to our homeland. from four directed terrorism, out of the safe haven of afghanistan. neither— safe haven of afghanistan. neither has occurred. neither has occurred. our lines has stayed _ has occurred. our lines has stayed strong. we have used horizon — stayed strong. we have used horizon capabilities to strike in afghanistan when we had to come — in afghanistan when we had to come up — in afghanistan when we had to come up for insight, eliminating the leader of al-qaeda since the september 11 attacks, — al-qaeda since the september 11 attacks, and we did without putting _ attacks, and we did without putting more american boots on the ground and by ending the warwe— the ground and by ending the war we have been able to focus our energies and resources on urgent — our energies and resources on urgent challenges. there is nothing. _ urgent challenges. there is nothing, i can tell you with my conversations with both xi and putin. — conversations with both xi and putin, there is no question

that— putin, there is no question that china would have liked more — that china would have liked more to— that china would have liked more to see us tied down in afghanistan for another decade. for att— afghanistan for another decade. for all those reasons, ending the war— for all those reasons, ending the war was the right thing to do. the war was the right thing to do and — the war was the right thing to do and i_ the war was the right thing to do. and i believe history will reflect— do. and i believe history will reflect that. from the moment i entered — reflect that. from the moment i entered office, i also worked to free — entered office, i also worked to free as— entered office, i also worked to free as many as the americans as possible of being held hostage wrongfully detained overseas. we brought home _ detained overseas. we brought home to — detained overseas. we brought home to more than 75 americans buy at— home to more than 75 americans buy at last — home to more than 75 americans buy at last count, and in some cases— buy at last count, and in some cases it — buy at last count, and in some cases it took months, even years— cases it took months, even years of— cases it took months, even years of effort. like the prisoner— years of effort. like the prisoner shop with russia over the past — prisoner shop with russia over the past summer. diplomacy invotving _ the past summer. diplomacy involving many of you and involving many of you and involving multiple countries who — involving multiple countries whojoined complex negotiations who joined complex negotiations at our— whojoined complex negotiations at our request. another example of the _ at our request. another example of the power of our alliances, we did — of the power of our alliances, we did not— of the power of our alliances, we did not have these relationships with those men and women would likely still be in prison — and women would likely still be in prison. and finally, i can report— in prison. and finally, i can report to _ in prison. and finally, i can report to the american people that we — report to the american people

that we have restored our leadership in a range of other generational priorities. when i took— generational priorities. when i took office, there were no longer— took office, there were no longer part of the international climate agreement. we announce on day one that _ agreement. we announce on day one that we would be rejoining the paris — one that we would be rejoining the paris accord, rejoin. and we tead _ the paris accord, rejoin. and we lead by example. we have conserved hundreds of millions of acres, — conserved hundreds of millions of acres, hundreds of millions of acres, hundreds of millions of acre — of acres, hundreds of millions of acre of— of acres, hundreds of millions of acre of land and water, more than _ of acre of land and water, more than any— of acre of land and water, more than any president in american history — than any president in american history. making an investment in clean — history. making an investment in clean energy, and convince other— in clean energy, and convince other nations tojoin in clean energy, and convince other nations to join us. thanks— other nations to join us. thanks to our efforts, the world _ thanks to our efforts, the world has reached a goal of investing $100 billion every year— investing $100 billion every year in — investing $100 billion every year in public and private funds— year in public and private funds to _ year in public and private funds to reduce greenhouse emissions, drive down the cost of clean — emissions, drive down the cost of clean energy, help developing nations adapt to climate _ developing nations adapt to climate change. our ministration has launched a transformative initiative mi