However, the diplomatic efforts of the Biden administration at a scaled-down UN General Assembly were overshadowed and complicated by the legacy of President Donald J. Trump. Biden worked to mend strained relations with France by speaking with President Emmanuel Macron and Secretary of State Blinken met with his French counterpart in New York. French officials criticized the Biden administration for failing to inform them about a strategic deal with Britain and Australia that affected a submarine contract. President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran implied that there was little difference between Biden and Trump in terms of foreign policy, referencing their slogans. Beijing's Global Times newspaper raised concerns about the longevity of Biden's promises on reducing global carbon emissions if a Republican administration were to take over, echoing similar sentiments from the Iranians regarding a potential return to the 2015 nuclear deal that Trump withdrew from abruptly. During a news conference that concluded a week of diplomacy, Blinken gave a favorable evaluation. He mentioned that US officials had engaged with representatives from over 60 countries and highlighted American leadership in addressing climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. When questioned about recent criticisms of US foreign policy, such as the Afghanistan withdrawal, stalled nuclear negotiations with Iran, and diplomatic tensions in Paris, Blinken stated that he had not personally received such complaints during his time in New York. He noted that the feedback he had received in response to the president's recent speech and the direction the country is heading in was overwhelmingly positive and supportive of the United States. Blinken made these remarks before leaving a weeklong diplomatic gathering that had cautiously resumed in-person meetings after the pandemic necessitated a virtual UN event the previous year. Several foreign leaders, such as those from Russia, China, and Iran, chose not to attend this year's gathering. This resulted in a lack of the usual drama surrounding whether the US president would have an unexpected encounter with a foreign rival. President Biden only made a brief appearance before leaving a few hours after his speech on Tuesday. In his address, he highlighted how America's withdrawal from Afghanistan marked the end of 20 years of war following the September 11, 2001 attacks. He emphasized that the US was now entering a new era of collaborative diplomacy to address global challenges like climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the rise of authoritarianism. The speech paid great tribute to global cooperation and stood in stark opposition to Trump's lack of diplomacy. However, some have criticized Biden for making policy decisions that resemble Trump's. French officials expressed surprise and frustration over the US submarine deal with Australia, likening it to Trump's unilateral and unpredictable actions. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed anger and disappointment over the decision. The tension between the US and France was somewhat alleviated by Thursday, following discussions between Biden and Macron, as well as Blinken and Le Drian. However, the French diplomat's comments indicated that the issue had not been completely resolved. Resolving the current crisis will be a gradual process that will demand action, according to Le Drian. The incident with France may have been seen as an isolated event, but it reminded some NATO allies of past grievances regarding Biden's decision to withdraw from Afghanistan without proper consultation or warning. Trump was known for catching allies off guard with sudden and independent actions. Blinken objected to claims that he ignored NATO officials' advice on Afghanistan, but officials from Germany, Britain, and other countries said their recommendations for a slower withdrawal were disregarded. Biden supporters dismiss these comparisons as exaggerated, but some acknowledge concerns about the possibility of Trump, or someone similar, undoing Biden's policies. Former National Security Council and Pentagon staffer Loren DeJonge Schulman argued it is unrealistic to assume continuity between Trump and Biden in terms of foreign relations and national security. However, Schulman recognized that other countries have legitimate doubts about the Biden administration's ability to maintain international commitments and strengthen alliances in the aftermath of the Trump presidency. DeJonge Schulman, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, stated that trust cannot be the only factor in this situation. Not only have annoyed allies noticed similarities between Biden and Trump, but adversaries have also used this as a way to attack Biden. The Global Times, known for mirroring the Chinese Communist Party's views, has claimed that Biden's approach to China is very similar to Trump's, including maintaining trade tariffs that Democrats criticized but now see as a bargaining tool. Additionally, Iranian officials have expressed frustration that Biden has not removed the economic sanctions imposed by Trump after withdrawing from the nuclear deal. In the early days of Biden's presidency, some European allies advised the administration to lift certain restrictions in order to kickstart nuclear talks. However, Biden officials chose not to do so. Last month, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, accused the current administration of being no different from the previous one in terms of their demands on the nuclear issue. Now, with a new hard-line government in Tehran and a pause in negotiations, Biden officials are warning Iran that time is running out for a mutual return to the nuclear agreement. Criticism of the Biden team's handling of foreign policy is increasing, especially following a US military drone strike in Kabul last month that resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians. Certain officials in the Biden administration have acknowledged the challenges faced in diplomacy due to the retirement of many experienced Foreign Service officers during the Trump administration. Senator Ted Cruz has obstructed the confirmation of numerous Biden nominees for senior State Department roles and ambassadorships. Biden is being compared to Trump in various areas, such as immigration, prompting questions about the differences between the two administrations. This information was reported by The New York Times.