Biden must wait for the State Department to choose the weekend

President Biden’s promise to bring the United States back to the global stage is being postponed – at least for a few days – in the Senate, where his nominee for Secretary of State, Antony BlinkenAntony BlinkenState Dept. analyzes Trump’s decision to label Houthis as a terrorist organization Night Defense: Austin Takes Command of the Pentagon | COVID-19 briefing part of Day 1 agenda | Outrage at the images of National Guard troops in the Senate parking lot confirms Austin to lead the Pentagon under Biden MORE, is in confirmation limbo.

Some Senate Democrats have criticized the delay, arguing that the Senate should have already voted on its confirmation.

“The Secretary of State is fourth in line for succession. Leaving that position vacant is irresponsible ”, senator. Robert MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezSenate pressures Biden’s choice for secretary of state for Iran, China, Russia and Yemen End of year agreement creates Latin American, women’s history museums Lawmakers call for inclusion of the creation of Latin and women’s history museums in the year-end agreement. MORE (DN.J.), the next chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a speech on Thursday.

The White House on Friday seemed to minimize the delay while thanking the Senate for confirming Biden’s choice for the Pentagon.

“I know that our secretary of state is about to be confirmed, or else the senator. [Mitch] McConnell [R-Ky.] tells us, ”White House press secretary Jen PsakiJen PsakiBiden under pressure to deliver more doses of COVID-19 Biden, Trudeau agrees to meet next month, Democrats seek answers about the impact of the Russian cyber attack on the Justice Department, Courts MORE said.

It was a chaotic few weeks in the Senate, where power shifted on Wednesday, when three new Democratic senators took office – including the two who won Georgia’s runoff elections earlier this month – along with Vice President Harris.

Harris will have the Senate 50-50 tiebreaker vote, giving Democrats a majority.

But Democrats and Republicans have not reached an agreement on the Senate’s rules of organization, which means that Republicans still have a majority on some committees.

The battles for the election also contributed to a slow pace in the nominations.

The Senate confirmed Biden’s choice as its national intelligence director, Avril HainesAvril HainesBiden DHS, Intel chooses the need to prioritize cybersecurity after SolarWinds hacks Biden Intel’s appointed chief Avril Haines promises public report on QAnon threat Former Trump intelligence chief Coats introduces Biden’s nominee Haines in the audience MORE, On thursday. On Friday, confirmed the Secretary of Defense Lloyd AustinLloyd AustinTrump impeachment trial begins in the week of February 8 Trump’s DHS chief advocates swift confirmation of Biden’s choice amid Hawley’s blockade. Night defense: Austin takes command at the Pentagon | COVID-19 briefing part of Day 1 agenda | Outrage at the images of National Guard troops in the garage MORE.

Blinken could be confirmed early next week, and Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) said there must be a strong bipartisan interest in confirming it.

Monday is as early as a confirmation vote can take place, according to a Republican Senate aide, who said that Risch is working to obtain unanimous consent from members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to allow the vote on confirmation proceed.

If unanimous consent is not reached, the entire committee will vote on Monday night if Blinken’s confirmation will be sent to the Senate floor for voting.

Another reason why Blinken’s appointment has been postponed is that committee members are working to review their responses to at least 780 questions submitted by lawmakers. Blinken also attended a nearly five-hour hearing on Tuesday.

In comparison, 550 written questions were sent to the former President TrumpDonald TrumpMcCarthy said he told Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene that he disagreed with his impeachment articles against Biden Biden, Trudeau agrees to meet next month that Trump planned to oust AG to overturn the election results in Georgia: report MOREthe last secretary of state, Mike PompeoMike PompeoState Dept. reviews Trump’s decision to label Houthis as a terrorist organization VOA reinstates transferred White House reporter after questioning Pompeo Jilani: China ‘sending clear message’ to Biden officials with sanctions that the opposition could lead to ‘future salary cuts’ MORE. Trump’s first nominee, Rex TillersonRex Wayne TillersonTillerson: ‘We wasted the best opportunity we had in North Korea’ State Department creates new office for cybersecurity and emerging technologies Lawmakers express concern about the lack of young people in the federal workforce MORE, received 715.

State Secretaries John KerryJohn KerryParis deal: Biden’s chance to restore international standing Kerry promises Europeans that Biden will try to make up for climate action ENERGY OF THE NIGHT: Biden renews the US commitment to the Paris climate deal | Biden cancels Keystone XL license and suspends Arctic refuge lease | Interior Secretary rescinds request for protection in the jungle before leaving office MORE and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham Clinton ClintonTexas Supreme Court rejects Alex Jones’ request to file lawsuits against Sandy Hook’s parents Paris deal: Biden’s chance to restore international reputation Hereditary task of Samantha Power: turning a screw with a rubber screwdriver MORE, who both served in the Obama administration, had to answer 291 and 498 questions, respectively.

The Republican aide defended the number of questions.

“The president does not like to ask questions just to ask questions, they were all substantive, at least the questions we put forward,” said the aide.

The aide added that the committee is on track to promote Blinken’s nomination faster than Tillerson’s. It was confirmed almost three weeks after the hearing marathon before the committee.

“Risch supports unprecedented actions, including a [unanimous consent] agreement that would circumvent the regular order of the committee, ”said the Republican aide on Blinken’s confirmation.

In the absence of a confirmed secretary, the State Department is being administered by the director of the Institute of Foreign Service, Daniel Smith.

James Dobbins, a senior member of RAND Corporation who served as assistant secretary of state for Europe, said that the delay in Blinken’s confirmation vote is not “extraordinary at this point, but if it lasted a few more days, it would become unusual.”

“The Secretary of State is the face of American diplomacy and the person to whom those responsible for diplomacy in other countries turn,” he said.

“I think it delays the normalization of relations between the United States and its allies. It can also delay treatment, probably not from the most urgent problems, but from urgent problems with opponents and other countries, ”he added.

Foreign diplomats are eager to get involved with Blinken, the Biden administration and their senior staff, after months of a strict policy of non-contact between the transition team and foreign governments.

“Obviously, there is a bit of unrest in the capitals and people want to talk to people, and that delays even more,” said a European diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous to speak frankly.

“It is what it is – it’s just a few more days, after a few months of being unable to get involved with the President of the United States team.”

Despite not having his full team, Biden is moving forward in signing a stack of executive orders that include reversing the Trump administration’s foreign policy actions.

This includes a return to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris Climate Agreement, measures welcomed by US allies.

“WHO is a family of nations and we are all happy that the United States remains in the family,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organization said during the first meeting with Anthony FauciAnthony FauciOvernight Health Care – Fauci: Lack of facts ‘probably’ cost lives in the fight against coronavirus | CDC changes the orientation of the COVID-19 vaccine to allow the rare mix of Pfizer and Moderna injections | Senate chaos threatens to slow down Biden Fauci’s agenda enraged by threats to the family Poll: Plurality of voters says coronavirus vaccine launch slower than expected MORE, Sent from Biden to WHO.

Biden relies on his national security council to engage with close US allies on urgent issues related to Russia, North Korea, Iran and China.

Jake SullivanJake SullivanWhite House: It will take ‘a little while’ before Biden’s first trip abroad. Biden’s national security adviser makes introductory calls with his foreign counterparts to the nix border wall, ‘Muslim ban’ on the first day in office MORE, Biden’s national security adviser, held separate introductory calls with senior national security officials from France, Germany and the UK discussing issues related to China, Iran and Russia.

Sullivan also called the secretary general of Japan’s national security secretariat. The conversation focused on the challenges facing COVID-19, China and North Korea.

One of the most pressing issues that Blinken must address, if confirmed, is to work with Congress to extend the new START nuclear treaty with Russia. It expires on February 5.

The treaty places limits on each country’s nuclear weapons arsenal and allows inspections on both sides to verify compliance.

White House spokesman Jen Psaki told reporters on Thursday that the president wants to extend the treaty for five years, an announcement that Russia has welcomed.

Blinken, at his confirmation hearing, noted the treaty as one of the first business orders that he would go to the Senate to work on the extension.

“What I can say is that I know that we will be looking for him very quickly, almost immediately, to discuss this,” he said.