Speaking to graduates at West Point, Biden lists Obama administration's achievements and rejects criticism from Romney
Troop drawdown in Iraq and Afghanistan has allowed the US to focus on new global challenges after a decade of war, Joe Biden, the vice-president, said on Saturday.
Speaking to graduates at West Point military academy, Biden countered Republican claims that the administration had been weak on foreign policy, citing the hit on Osama bin Laden and the scaling down of conflicts overseas.
The comments came as President Barack Obama announced he is to spend Memorial Day on Monday with veterans at Arlington national cemetery and the Vietnam veterans memorial.
In his weekly radio address, the commander-in-chief also sought to make a political point in suggesting that the best way to honour those who had served would be to ensure that they have access to healthcare, higher education and jobs.
At the US military academy in West Point, Biden sought to rebuff assertions by presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney that Obama had become an apologist for America overseas.
Instead, he listed the administration's achievements, including the pullout of troops in Iraq and the drawdown of soldiers in Afghanistan.
"Winding down these longs wars has enabled us to replace and rebalance our foreign policy," the vice-president told army cadets and their families.
Referring to the team of US navy Seals that killed Bin Laden, Biden added: "Those warriors sent a message to the world that if you harm America, we will follow you to the end of the earth."
Biden's address echoes the themes that Obama outlined in a commencement speech to air force cadets earlier this week.
Both have sought to counter the view that the current administration has overseen a diminishing US influence in the world.
It is an area that Romney has attempted to make capital from, repeatedly criticising the president for perceived weak leadership.