Munich, Germany (CNN) Former Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday returned to a familiar place on the world stage in his role as a "citizen," assuring political leaders and security experts gathered in Germany that the US should remain committed to its allies despite a perception that the country is "pulling away from the world and our leadership responsibilities."

"The America I see is not in wholesale retreat from the interest and values that have guided us time and again, to be willing to shoulder our responsibility of leadership in the 20th century, and we can do that again. We must do that again," Biden said in remarks at the Munich Security Conference. "The America I see does not wish to turn our back on the world or allies, our closest allies. Indeed, the American people understand that it's only by working in cooperation with our friends that we are going to be able to harness the forces of a rapidly changing world, to mitigate their downsides and turn them to our collective advantage."

Hours before Biden spoke, Vice President Mike Pence also addressed the conference . Though he did not reference the vice president or President Trump by name in his speech, Biden challenged several stances of the current administration, from its views on NATO to refugees.

"I strongly support NATO. I believe it is the single most significant military alliance in the world," he said. "I think it is the basis upon which we have been able to keep peace and stability for the past 70 years. It is the heart of our collective security."

"The America I see values basic human decency, not snatching children from their parents or turning our back on refugees on the border," Biden said to applause.

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