Biden plans first major foreign policy speech on restoring ‘America’s place’

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Biden’s speech will focus on the theme of “restoring America’s place in the world,” one of his central campaign promises, and will coincide with his first trip to a cabinet office. He plans to visit the State Department to meet newly installed secretary Antony Blinken, press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday.

Making his first stop there, in lieu of the Pentagon or the CIA, is meant to underscore Biden’s renewed focus on repairing US alliances and using diplomacy as a tool abroad, an official said.

While his speech is not expected to detail a new strategy for China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or other US adversaries, he will seek to frame his foreign policy around strengthening alliances and return to multilateralism after the Trump administration. , which was characterized by unilateral actions and disdain for traditional diplomacy.

Biden has spoken on the phone with about half a dozen foreign counterparts since taking office, but has publicly focused primarily on the coronavirus pandemic and domestic executive actions. He rejoined the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organization, indicating that he wants to renew US commitments abroad.

A draft calendar of government opening days obtained by CNN listed “Restoring America’s Place in the World” as the theme for February.

Biden campaigned for a pledge to renew the US alliances strained under former President Donald Trump. His calls last week to the leaders of Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan were all intended to bolster his promise to strengthen ties with traditional American allies.

He spoke to an adversary – President Vladimir Putin of Russia – in an appeal that officials described as businesslike but direct. The White House said Biden has addressed a range of issues, including cybersecurity and the poisoning of opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

Blinken, sworn in last week, on Sunday spoke out against “hard tactics” used against pro-Navalny protests across Russia.

“We renew our call to Russia to release those detained for exercising their human rights,” he wrote.

The State Department that Biden will visit Monday suffered from a sharp drop in morale under Trump, who liked to call the agency the “Deep State Department” and consistently viewed its career professionals with skepticism.

Last week, Blinken addressed the atmosphere in his first comments to employees, saying that he ushered in a new era.

“I know the State Department I walk into today is not the same as the one I left four years ago,” referring to his time as a Deputy Secretary of State. ‘A lot has changed. The world has changed. The department has changed. ‘

Biden is expected to thank State Department employees when he visits the building on Monday.

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