Diplomacy front and centre: Biden
WASHINGTON: , United States President Joe Biden has promised a new era after the scattershot foreign policy of his predecessor, Donald Trump, declaring ‘‘America is back’’ on the global stage in his first diplomatic address as president.
In his speech, Biden signaled aggressive approaches to China and Russia, urged Myanmar’s military leaders to halt their coup, and declared an end to US support for a Saudi Arabialed military campaign in Yemen.
‘‘American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy.
‘‘We must meet the new moment . . . accelerating global challenges from the pandemic to the climate crisis to nuclear proliferation,’’ Biden said.
Trump angered European and Asian leaders with tariffs, fracturing of global alliances, and threats to withdraw US troops. He did little to push back against a wave of authoritarianism in some countries.
After a Trumpinspired mob attacked the US Capitol on January 6, protesting Biden’s election win, foreign allies and rivals alike expressed doubts about the health of American democracy.
Biden’s speech yesterday was a fullthroated attempt to vanquish those doubts, and convince Americans of the value of a forceful international approach.
‘‘Investing in our diplomacy isn’t something we do just because it’s the right thing to do for the world,’’ he said.
‘‘We do it in order to live in peace, security and prosperity. We do it because it’s in our own naked selfinterest.’’
Biden’s choice of the State Department as the venue for his first big diplomatic address was an important symbol of the value he places in career diplomats, whom Trump largely saw as opponents.
‘‘American alliances are our greatest asset. And leading with diplomacy means standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies and key partners once again,’’ Biden said.
Biden in his early days has attempted to repair what he has called the damage to America’s standing around the world, rolling back Trump policies.
He is working to revive the Iran deal, and renewed US membership in the Paris accord and the World Health Organisation.
He challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin.
‘‘I made it clear to President Putin, in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia’s aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyberattacks, poisoning its citizens, are over,’’ he said.
‘‘We are a country that does big things. American diplomacy makes it happen and our administration is ready to take up the mantle and lead once again,’’ Biden said.