The Biden Doctrine: A Return to Moral Leadership & an End to America's Pandering to Putin

President Joe Biden has decades of experience in US foreign policy and he demonstrated yesterday that he clearly recognizes the damage that Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo did to America's standing in the world.

He also understands that Trump's "America First" campaign was simply a meaningless bumper sticker meant to provide a veneer of respectability to a hodgepodge of reckless and amateurish policies that accomplished nothing while undermining the nation's ability to influence global events. America can't be 'first" if it's a follower or simply reacting to the leadership of others. Moreover, Biden understands that America's standing in the world is greatly enhanced when we coordinate our policies with like-minded allies.

In his first major foreign policy speech Biden spoke to both our allies and our adversaries. “America is back. Diplomacy is back,” said Biden. He intends to work "shoulder to shoulder" with America's long-term allies to take a more decisive stand against authoritarian states like China and Russia. He spoke directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin in his address.

Biden: “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.”

Putin interfered in the 2016 election because he realized that Trump would undermine the NATO alliance, Russia's greatest regional threat. A weakened NATO provided the Russian dictator with a freer hand in Ukraine and greater sway in Eastern Europe.

Biden: "We will not hesitate to raise the cost on Russia and defend our vital interests and our people. And we will be more effective in dealing with Russia when we work in coalition and coordination with other like-minded partners."

The President also promised that human rights and humanitarian concerns will again influence US foreign policy toward nations like China and Saudi Arabia. He promised to restore America's refugee admissions program, end US support for Saudi Arabia's offensive operations in Yemen, and push back on China’s deplorable human rights record, especially its treatment of the Uighurs.

Biden: "When we defend equal rights of people the world over — of women and girls, LGBTQ individuals, indigenous communities, and people with disabilities, the people of every ethnic background and religion — we also ensure that those rights are protected for our own children here in America."

And finally, Biden provided a vision for America's future diplomacy by reminding us of its illustrious past.

Biden: "America cannot afford to be absent any longer on the world stage. I come today to the State Department, an agency as old and as storied as the nation itself, because diplomacy has always been essential to how America writes its own destiny."

"For the diplomacy of Ben Franklin helped assure the success of our revolution. The vision of the Marshall Plan helped prevent the world from foundering on the wreckage of war. And the passions of Eleanor Roosevelt declared the audacious idea of universal rights that belong to all."

Biden understands that one eloquent speech won't repair the damage that Donald Trump did to US foreign policy and our global standing. Moreover the challenges ahead with Afghanistan, Iran, China, N. Korea, and Syria, are beyond daunting. However, he signaled that he will approach those challenges as the leader of the free world and with a clear moral vision, and that's a good start.

#news #internationalrelations #Biden

By: Don Lam & Curated Content