President Joe Biden is expected to outline his vision of foreign policy, with the aim of “restoring America’s place in the world”, in a speech on Monday, according to a senior government official.
It would be Biden’s first major political speech since taking office and will likely occur during a planned visit to the State Department to thank officials, the official said. The president is also expected to sign several executive actions related to his efforts to demonstrate a new US approach on the world stage, including the formation of a task force to bring together separate migrant families during the previous administration.
Biden is facing a series of foreign policy challenges – from Iran and North Korea to Russia, China and the war in Afghanistan, which started 20 years ago this fall.
He harshly criticized former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy during the 2020 campaign and promised a dramatic change if he won the election, including a promise to increase reach to U.S. allies and confront opponents such as Russia.
In his first call since taking office with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, Biden raised several points of contention between the two countries, including Moscow’s interference in the elections and a five-year extension to the strategic arms reduction treaty.
He has already adhered to the Paris Climate Agreement after Trump withdrew the U.S. from the international pact, and returned to the World Health Organization after Trump started the withdrawal process. Biden also said, unlike his predecessor, that he plans to regain Iran diplomatically.
Biden also promised to continue to challenge China, a stance that Trump made the cornerstone of his “America First” foreign policy.
Announcing some key members of his national security team in November, Biden said, “America is back. Ready to lead the world, not retreat from it. Again, sit at the head of the table. Ready to face our opponents, not to reject our allies, ready to defend our values. “
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday that Biden plans to visit the State Department on Monday to meet with Secretary of State Tony Blinken. He told State Department officials this week that the desire of the foreign allies he spoke to, wanting the United States to be more involved on the global stage, was “almost palpable”.
