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The Atlantic Alliance, which did so much to deliver victory in World War II, is now under real threat.

That is the warning from my guest on this, a special edition of political thinking.

I've come to Delaware in the United States to talk to the last living US president alive

during World War II. Joe Biden was born in 1942, almost a year after America entered the war to support the allied effort to defeat the Nazis.

He says the story of what happened shaped him and his views.

As a politician for more than 50 years, as Barack Obama's vice president, and ultimately as president serving until just a few months ago.

He's always had a deep belief in the Atlantic alliance and the commitment which America made

along with nations all over Europe to come to each other's defense. He worries that that commitment may soon come to an end.

On this special anniversary and at the beginning of a new series of conversations with,

rather than interrogations of someone who shaped our political thinking about what has shaped theirs,

we asked President Joe Biden to reflect

on history and the lessons it teaches us today in what is his first broadcast interview

since leaving the White House.

Mr President, thank you so much for talking to us.

Thanks for being here. In this week of celebrations of VE Day, I've been looking back at a speech you made a year ago at Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

And you said they knew beyond any doubt there are things worth fighting and dying for.

It's a message of sacrifice.

Do you fear that that message is being forgotten in America right now?

I do fear a little bit.

I don't think it's been forgotten by the people.

I think it's being forgotten by the leadership a little bit.

...