New signs from Washington of a coherent world view

A fortnight after the US Capitol looked like a scene from a dystopian movie, the building had a rebirth of sorts with the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and once more resembles what it was historically destined to be  –  the symbol of American democracy.

As expected, the lion’s share of Biden’s inaugural speech dealt with domestic issues and the indispensable need for unity, a word he used 19 times, but the speech fell short on the new administration’s approach to international affairs. There had been signs of it during the election campaign and from the executive orders that followed Biden’s entrance to the White House, but as much as American citizens were glued to their screens, eager to discover what their new leader was envisaging for their future, so was the rest of the world.

The separation between domestic policy and foreign policy is an artificial one, and no country can project international power while it is crumbling from within. And in recent years, the US has barely been able to keep itself together, let alone be a world leader. A speech that reinforced the need for unity and the requirement to combat racial injustice, deliver affordable health care and defeat the coronavirus pandemic, was therefore essential. But we were left guessing about Biden’s commitments beyond the water’s edge.

Still, the commitment to reengage with the world and repair alliances was a crucial message after four years during which it was almost impossible to discern America’s attitude toward its allies and enemies alike. Engaging with the world means abandoning unilateralism and returning to multilateralism – “working with the world instead of against it.” This was a promising start for a leadership committing itself to be a “strong and trusted partner for peace, progress and security,” but it left us needing more details and fewer abstract promises, especially in the midst of one of the most challenging crises the world has ever faced.

Some clues to the new administration’s foreign policy emerged in the first days of Biden’s presidency. Top of the president’s global agenda throughout his election campaign had been rejoining the international battle against the impact of climate change. True to his promises, one of his first moves by executive order was to rejoin the Paris Agreement and once more be at the heart of efforts to curb global greenhouse emissions. Significantly, he didn’t stop there, but embarked on reversing the culture of climate change denial that has ruled Washington in recent years, warning that the worsening environmental crisis is an “existential threat” to humanity with consequences that could be truly catastrophic.

Following words with deeds, he has already introduced new measures to tackle this threat by appropriating further funds to confront climate change, including a plan to promote the protection of the Amazon rainforest and other critical ecosystems. The new administration is also taking the initiative on leading innovation in addressing environmental challenges, an approach that would also assist in creating jobs, and better paid ones too. Ordering the replacement of the current fleet of government vehicles by 645,000 electric cars and trucks sends a clear message that this administration is determined to lead the way on climate change while also transforming the country’s economy.

But it was not only on climate change that the new Biden administration was quick to reengage with the world. For most of us, it was a no-brainer that fighting a lethal pandemic required all international forces to join together, and in an act of unifying the global response to the coronavirus crisis Biden reversed Trump’s decision to leave the World Health Organization, in one of the most significant moves in combating the pandemic. Moreover, in the drive to undo all of the deliberate and unnecessary confrontations with the international community that Trump instigated to appeal to his base, Biden has already reversed his predecessor’s policy that barred entry to the US for refugees and residents from seven predominantly Muslim countries, and he has terminated the construction of the wall on the Mexican border.

Another issue that the previous administration left behind as scorched earth was the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and rightly the new administration was quick to begin rebuilding bridges with the Palestinians, by restoring ties with the Palestinian Authority and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees. One of the biggest challenges in the coming weeks and months is going to be how to revive the nuclear agreement with Iran, where there are quite a few circles to be squared before Washington and Tehran will be able to agree on the terms of their mutual commitment to the JCPOA.

For those watching the inauguration who expected to be presented with a far-reaching vision of America’s standing in the world, there was only a mere hint of this. Nevertheless, a picture is emerging of an administration that is keen to play a constructive role in world affairs based on democratic values and pragmatic diplomatic dialogue guided by experience, facts, and science; and one that has a refreshingly coherent world view.

• Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations at Regent’s University London, where he is head of the International Relations and Social Sciences Program. He is also an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House. He is a regular contributor to the international written and electronic media. Twitter: @YMekelberg