Lame duck or legacy maker? How Biden announcement could affect US relations with foreign leaders

Announcement comes at turbulent time in world affairs, with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and a growing US-China rivalry

After 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 off the American president as a lame duck.

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 skeptical of Europe, unsympathetic toward Ukraine, hawkish on China and pro-Israel.