(NewsNation) — Military provocation by America’s adversaries is nothing new, and far from unique to the Biden administration, according to retired Admiral John F. Kirby, the White House National Security Communications adviser.

“China was absolutely still conducting bellicose operations. The North Koreans absolutely were still working on their ballistic missile and nuclear programs,” Kirby said, referring to incidents that occurred during the Trump administration.

“Terrorists were, in fact, striking our troops in Iraq and Syria, so much so that … former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo actually considered closing down our embassy in Baghdad,” Kirby added.

Kirby spoke Thursday on NewsNation’s “On Balance” a day after fighter jets from the U.S. and Canada intercepted a flight of four planes about 200 miles off the coast of Alaska.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command says the two Russian and two Chinese bombers were in international airspace, but within what NORAD calls the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone. NORAD says the planes were not considered a threat.

Kirby dismissed suggestions that Russia and China have increased military provocations because they see the Biden administration as weak.

“To put this at the feet of this administration, I think, just flies in the face of the facts. There’s no question that there are organizations and nation-states that want to tear that down — to diminish American leadership on the world stage.”

Kirby said the Biden administration has been proactive on international affairs.

“We’ve actually invested in alliances and partnerships. NATO is two countries stronger than it was before,” he said, referring to the addition of Sweden and Finland four months ago. He also pointed to U.S. and European efforts to arm Australia with new ballistic missile submarines.

Kirby says President Joe Biden has described these times as “an inflection point where autocrats, tyrants and terrorists are trying to tear down the ‘“’rules-based order’”’ … that was put in place after World War II.”

And when it comes to our adversaries looking for an edge during the presidential campaign, Kirby said that, too, is familiar behavior.

“There is no time when we’ve ever had a presidential transition where there hasn’t been actors who considered trying to exploit that. We’re obviously going to stay vigilant to that.”