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Introducing his foreign policy and national security team, the former vice president of the Democratic Party signaled his intention after taking office on January 20 to steer the US away from the unilateralist nationalism that Trump is pursuing.
Trump has for four years troubled many of his US allies, in Europe and elsewhere, with his antagonistic approach to NATO and trade relations, the abandonment of international treaties and warm ties with authoritarian leaders.
Biden said his team, including trusted aide Antony Blinken as a candidate for US secretary of state, would give up what he described as “old thinking and unchanging habits” in its approach to foreign relations.
“This is a team that reflects the fact that America is back, ready to lead the world, not stepping back, once again sitting at the top of the table, ready to face our enemies and not rejecting our allies, ready to stand by our values,” Biden said on event in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, as reported by Reuters, Wednesday (11/25/2020).
The world has changed a lot since the Democrats were last in the White House four years ago. China is on the rise and getting bolder, Russia has been trying to assert its influence more, US influence has waned because it has withdrawn from deals and America’s moral authority has been undermined by chaos at home.
US foreign policy under the Biden administration is likely to take a more multilateral and diplomatic approach aimed at improving Washington’s relations with major allies and pursuing new pathways on issues such as climate change.(Also read:Obama’s Middle East Policy May Return to ‘Alive’ during the Biden Administration)
His pledge to embrace alliances, including in the Asia-Pacific region, following deteriorating bilateral relations between the US and China, the world’s top two economies, has sparked comparisons to the Cold War.
The Trump administration’s final year was marked by frequent attacks on China as the two powers clashed over Beijing’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, deteriorating freedoms in Hong Kong and territorial issues in the South China Sea.
Biden has moved swiftly to assemble his team and make Cabinet choices after defeating Trump, who has waged a legal battle to try to reverse the results but ended in failure, claiming the election had been stolen through widespread rigging.
Biden said his team has been able to begin coordinating with the Trump administration on national security, the coronavirus pandemic and vaccine distribution plans since getting the green light on Monday for formal transition efforts.(Also read:Biden Tender Diplomacy Strategies Tend to Bipartisan)
“We will not be too far behind the curve as we expected in the past,” Biden said in an interview with NBC News.
“There were a lot of direct discussions, and I must say, the counseling was done sincerely,” he added.
The White House on Tuesday gave Biden permission to begin receiving the president’s daily intelligence briefings. Biden said he hasn’t got it yet but looks forward to it regularly.
Asked by NBC about the possibility of nominating Sanders or Warren to his cabinet, Biden said nothing was off the table but hinted they might be more needed in the Senate, where the ruling party will rule by a narrow margin.
“Getting someone out of the Senate, getting someone out of the DPR, especially people who have consequences, is really a tough decision,” said Biden.
“I have a very ambitious and very progressive agenda, and will need very strong leaders in the DPR and Senate to solve it,” he explained.
During his presentation with his national security team, Biden urged the Senate to present candidates needing confirmation by the assembly “immediate hearing” and expressed hope he could work with Republicans in good faith.
“Let us begin the work of healing and uniting America and the world,” added Biden.
Several Republican senators indicated, however, they may be prepared to block the appointment of the Biden Cabinet. Marco Rubio, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote on Twitter that the Biden Cabinet voted to be the courteous & orderly guard of America’s decline.
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