U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has paid tribute to U.S. President Joe Biden as an “extraordinary guardian’’ of the country’s security.
He was “deeply grateful’’ for Biden’s leadership and statesmanship, Austin said in a statement after Biden announced he was withdrawing from the race to be the next president.
“He has a secure place in American history as one of our great foreign-policy presidents.
“President Biden has been a stalwart defender of free government, a fearless foe of tyranny, and a historic champion of an open world of rules, rights, and responsibilities,’’ Austin said.
The entire Department of Defence stood united “in saluting President Biden’s service to the country that we defend, the Constitution that we revere, and the republic that we love.
“President Biden has repeatedly declared, we will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example, Today, he has done just that.’’