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The United States does not have to lead with power, but as a role model for the world: the winner of the American election, Biden, made this happen at most for his presidency. A challenge, because Trump’s predecessor in office leaves him works around the world.
By Julia Kastein, ARD-Studio Washington
Joe Biden, the 46th president-elect, ushered in his era with an eloquent promise to the world: “When we show our best side, then we are a beacon to the world. We will not lead with our strength, but through our role model. “.
Climate change should become a priority
On the first day of his presidency, Biden wants to get serious and get the United States back to the Paris climate protection agreement that he officially left last week.
The “fight for the climate” is said to be a focus of the Biden Harris administration, even if the details are still unclear. In the pre-election campaign, for example, Biden wanted to ban the controversial production of natural gas through fracking, at least on land owned by the United States government. As a concession to voters in Pennsylvania, there is now talk of a long transition period: Biden only wants the United States, which after China emits the most CO2 into the atmosphere in the world, to be climate neutral by 2050.
U-turn in corona politics
Reentry to the climate agreement is an important political signal: Biden had already promised time and again during the election campaign that, unlike his predecessor, he would not depend on brutal efforts alone but on international cooperation. Also in the fight against the corona pandemic: One of the first decrees that Biden wants to sign in the Oval Office is re-entry into the World Health Organization. Trump had made the WHO, as China’s henchman, the scapegoat for the pandemic and resigned.
Fighting the pandemic will be the first major national political test for Biden: With nearly 10 million cases and nearly 240,000 deaths, the United States is the worst-hit country in the world. “We can’t fix the economy and our vitality or enjoy the best times of our lives – hugging grandchildren, celebrating birthdays and weddings – until we get that under control,” Biden said in his victory speech.
Therefore, already on Monday, Biden wants to appoint a group of experts who must present a detailed plan before January 20: one that includes tests, follow-up of contacts and preparation for the distribution of a vaccine that does not yet exist.
Less experience under Trump
One problem for Biden: There is a long-standing lack of experts in the government apparatus. At the top epidemic authority, the CDC, the Trump administration reduced the number of personnel who were supposed to research new viruses in China before the pandemic broke out. The National Security Council unit, which was specifically supposed to deal with pandemic emergency preparedness, was also dissolved in the Trump era.
In some ministries, the loss of staff was even more extreme: At EPA alone, hundreds of experts threw in the towel in exasperation during the first year and a half, and many were not replaced. The same thing happened in the State Department: hundreds of employees and professional diplomats left the State Department, and with them knowledge of cultures and conflicts around the world went with them.
Back to the Vienna nuclear agreement?
Biden could use this experience now. For example, on the issue of Iran and the question of whether the United States will now join the Vienna nuclear agreement. Biden had negotiated it himself once. But since the departure of the Trump administration, Iran has also threatened him. Back in January, after Trump killed Iran’s top military man, Qasem Soleimani, Biden made no secret of his frustration with the situation: “His constant mistakes and bad decisions have left us few options. And most of them are bad.”
Iran has already asked Biden to return to the deal. But Israel, which remains one of the most important allies of the Americans in the region, definitely does not want that. Another test for the self-declared bridge builder.
What’s next in the trade conflict with China?
Like China: Many Democratic voters are also hoping that Biden will rebalance what, from an American point of view, is unfair trade with Beijing. So you will hardly abolish the special tariffs immediately. Other problems are certainly easier to solve there: the strained relationship between the US and NATO and the EU should be softened by staff changes in the White House.
And Germany? Biden is also an outspoken opponent of the Nord Stream II pipeline in the Baltic Sea. But unlike his predecessor in office, he has yet to threaten sanctions. The 46th president is likely to adhere to the planned troop withdrawal. Even if you sell your politics and America’s interests more nicely.
