The American President may be ailing at home.
With his trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia, however, Biden underscores his claim to leadership in the Middle East.
In Israel, he named America's goals: preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and creating a pro-Western alliance in which Israel and Arab states share common interests with the United States.
The top priority for all partners is to ensure regional stability, which is threatened primarily by Iran, which is becoming ever more closely linked politically and militarily to Russia.
Washington also wants to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the region as a strategic partner of the Gulf monarchies beyond its economic relations.
To make that possible, Biden had to step over his shadow and make a course correction.
Even if he continues to speak of a value-oriented foreign policy, he is now fully committed to American interests.
Biden's course correction
Instead of reading the riot act to Saudi Arabia, he is now working with the House of Saud and other autocratic rulers in the region.
They are to work with Israel to ward off external threats.
It should not be completely forgotten that it was internal abuses that led to the mass protests of 2011 and the overthrow of several autocrats.
The new alliance cannot eliminate these dangers.