We are one of Biden’s besties

Australia is ‘key ally’

NEW YORK: US President Joe Biden has vowed a renewed US engagement with the world as he greeted diplomats at the State Department and made his first speech outlining his foreign policy.

“America is back,” Mr Biden said, in similar comments he made to staff earlier in the day.

“Diplomacy is back at the centre of our foreign policy.”

The President distinguished himself from the previous administration, emphasising the US needed to strengthen its global alliances, after Donald Trump spent four years fracturing relationships.

“We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again – not to meet yesterday’s challenges but today’s and tomorrow’s,” Mr Biden said. “We can’t do it alone.”

The President warmly mentioned Australia as one of his key international allies.

“Over the past two weeks, I’ve spoken with the leaders of many of our closest friends – Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, France, NATO, Japan, South Korea and Australia – to begin re-forming the habits of co-operation and rebuilding the muscles of democratic alliances that have atrophied from four years of neglect and abuse,” Mr Biden said. He also said it was time to get tough on Russia, promising – in another dig at Mr Trump – that “the days of America rolling over” for Vladimir Putin’s government were over.

“We will not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests and our people,” Mr Biden said.

He also said his administration would “continue to help and support Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty”.

Mr Biden also called on Myanmar’s military to “relinquish power” in the South-East Asian nation and release the government officials it detained in this week’s coup.

He also said the US would confront the “authoritarianism” of China. He acknowledged China as an adversary but said he was ready to work with Beijing at the right time.