Biden: "Russia is a threat there is a risk of a return of the Cold War"

"In too many places, including the United States and Europe,

. And we must defend them": is the warning launched by

in his speech at the Munich Security Conference.

For the American president, in the face of global challenges such as the pandemic, autocracies are not the answer as many argue: "Democracy must prevail and we must demonstrate that democracies can still fulfill their function in meeting the needs of our peoples" .

Vladimir Putin's Russia "is a threat to our democracies,"

Biden continued, warning of the risk of a return to a Cold War.

"Putin tries to undermine the European project and NATO. He wants to undermine the unity and transatlantic alliance and our resolve to more easily intimidate and bully individual states", added Biden recalling the case of Crimea and the 'Ukraine and then renewed the US commitment to full support for NATO. 

As for China, the American president is convinced that it is necessary "to reject its economic abuses"

and has warned that the US and Europe must prepare for a long-term competition with Beijing and that it will be "tough competition".

"The whole world must play by the same rules," Biden warned, accusing Beijing of continually breaking these rules by undermining the foundations of the international economic system.

Biden then recalled that the United States is for dialogue and diplomacy but must respond to Iran's destabilizing activities.

For the new president we are in a "crucial moment in the struggle between democracy and autocracy".