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reNew US President Joe Biden wants to rely more on diplomacy in foreign policy. America is back. Diplomacy is back, ”Biden said Thursday afternoon (local time) in his first foreign policy speech since taking office in January. “We will rebuild our alliances.” President-elect Donald Trump had alienated international allies in the four years of his tenure.
Since taking office, Biden has already spoken with partners in Asia and in many NATO countries, including Germany. In doing so, he wanted to “rebuild the habit of working together and rebuild the muscles of democratic alliances that have withered through years of neglect and, I would say, abuse.” Speaking at the State Department, Biden added: “America’s alliances are one of our greatest assets.”
Raising the upper limit for refugees
Biden’s predecessor, Donald Trump, had often snubbed his associates and was highly skeptical of international organizations. An increasingly cold relationship had developed with NATO partner Germany. In his speech, Biden announced a “freeze” on the partial withdrawal of troops from Germany ordered by Trump. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will first conduct a comprehensive investigation into the global troop presence, the president said. Trump had wanted to reduce the number of soldiers stationed in Germany from around 34,500 to 24,000.
Biden plans to increase the annual limit for refugee admission to 125,000, a massive increase compared to the 15,000 that Trump had lowered the limit to. The number refers to refugees who can enter the country as part of resettlement programs.
“America’s alliances are one of our greatest assets,” Biden said during his speech at the State Department.
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Bild: AP
In his opening speech, Biden also spoke about Russia and China in detail. The United States would no longer stand aside from “the aggressive actions of Russia, the interference in our elections, cyberattacks, the poisoning of its citizens.” Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny must be released immediately. The United States would also have to react to China’s “growing ambitions”, Biden stressed. Among other things, he criticized Beijing’s economic policy and violations of intellectual property rights.
Stay away from Yemeni politics
Biden promised that, together with international partners, the United States of America would face significant challenges such as containing the pandemic and fighting climate change. The United States will also “again advocate for democracy and human rights around the world.”
Furthermore, Biden asked the army command in Myanmar to withdraw immediately after the military coup. Biden said the military must immediately relinquish power in the Southeast Asian country, free activists and officials, lift restrictions on telecommunications and refrain from violence. Attempts to overturn the results of legitimate elections may not be acceptable. He had previously threatened sanctions.
Biden also announced a notable departure from the previous strategy in Yemen: In the country of civil war, fighting will no longer be supported in the future. In the poorest Arab country, a Saudi-led military alliance has been fighting the Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, since 2015. The US military helped with intelligence and logistical support. Additionally, billions in arms sales to Riyadh were approved. The war is highly controversial internationally because civilians are repeatedly killed in the process.
Stepping off Trump’s course
The new strategy had been discussed beforehand with allies in Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. The US military would continue to conduct counterterrorism operations in Yemen if it was to protect US interests or the security of allies. The terrorist group AQAP (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) is particularly strong in Yemen.
The US government also wants to quickly examine the step taken by its predecessor to classify the Houthi rebels as a terrorist organization. Aid workers warn that their work in rebel areas in the north will be difficult or impossible. The United Nations had repeatedly warned recently that Yemen was on the brink of a famine that could kill hundreds of thousands of people.
