Emotional Reunion at Joint Base Andrews
The former Marine emerged from the aircraft, peering out of the jet’s doorway, and raised his hand in a crisp salute. As he stepped onto the tarmac, he was greeted by a Wall Street Journal reporter, who welcomed him with a broad smile and open arms. Nearby, a Russian American editor rushed into a heartfelt embrace with her tearful daughter, highlighting the emotional gravity of the moment.
At the center of this poignant scene, unfolding on the tarmac of Joint Base Andrews late Thursday night, stood President Biden. Just hours prior, the President had proudly announced that his administration’s diplomatic efforts had successfully negotiated the release of three American prisoners who had been held captive in Russia. The individuals—Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, and Alsu Kurmasheva—deplaned to a chorus of cheers, applause, and the warm embrace of their family members.
“It feels absolutely wonderful,” President Biden expressed to reporters, his voice filled with emotion. “I was entirely convinced we would achieve this. I meant what I said: Alliances truly make a difference.”
The exuberant greetings that unfolded over the course of approximately thirty minutes amidst the humid Maryland night provided a rare moment of unrestrained joy in a realm of foreign affairs that has, more often than not, presented President Biden with challenges of fire and chaos. For him, this event served as a validation of the kind of patient, multilateral diplomacy he champions, which has, so far, struggled to bring peace to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, had fought back tears as he informed reporters that a multicountry agreement—resulting in the release of 24 prisoners from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia—was a quintessential example of “vintage Joe Biden” statecraft.
As President Biden took questions from the assembled reporters, he seemed determined to underscore the significance of this diplomatic achievement and what it represented for American foreign policy.
