Foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration

Biden's first foreign leader call was with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on January 22, 2021. The call followed Biden's announcement of the cancellation of the Keystone Pipeline. Biden explained that he was following through on a campaign promise and restoring a decision made by the former Obama administration while acknowledging that the decision will cause hardship to Canada.[3] Issues discussed included the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery therein, climate change and environmental issues, NATO, Indigenous issues and other international relations.[4] In her first briefing, White House Secretary Psaki noted focus on foreign relations would be with friends and allies of the United States saying: "I would expect his early calls will be with partners and allies. He feels it's important to rebuild those relationships."[5]

President Biden speaks with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in the Oval Office

Biden had a call with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on January 22, 2021. On the call they spoke of issues such as regionality and regional migration, reducing immigration across the Mexico–United States border by targeting the root cause, increasing resettlement capacity, providing legal alternative for immigration pathways, improving the treatment of immigrants at the border, adequate arbitration of requests for asylum, reversal of the Trump administration's immigration policies, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Obrador said the call was “pleasant and respectful” and that relations between Mexico and the United States would improve in the future.[6][7][8]

With respect to the crisis in Venezuela, Biden retained a hard-line approach, recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president of Venezuela and declining to directly negotiate with President Nicolás Maduro; the U.S. State Department emphasized that "Maduro is a dictator" and that the regime's repression and corruption created a humanitarian catastrophe.[9]

Antony Blinken indicated American interest in robust ties between itself, Greece, Israel, and Cyprus, in response to questioning by Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Bob Menendez regarding the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act.[14]

Furthermore, stating that "we are very clear eyed" about the problems posed by an expansionist Turkey, which is "not acting like an ally", Blinken indicated that he would consider sanctioning Erdogan's government. [15]

Biden has been a firm supporter of Israel-United States relations, describing himself a Zionist and stating that U.S. aid to Israel is an investment.[16] Biden's UN Ambassador-designate Linda Thomas-Greenfield vowed to "stand against the unfair singling out of Israel for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, saying that the movement "verges on antisemitism."[17]

During his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the Biden administration would continue to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to keep the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem[18][19] which had been relocated from its previous site in Tel Aviv by the Trump Administration per the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, passed by a bipartisan supermajority. Biden called Trump's move, done without conditions, "short-sighted and frivolous" but said during his campaign that he would keep the embassy in Jerusalem and not move it back to Tel Aviv.[20] In February 2021, the U.S. Senate adopted, by a 97–3 vote, an amendment to a budget resolution that that affirmed the U.S. intent to keep the embassy in Jerusalem.[21]

Consistent with Biden's statements during the campaign,[13][12][22][12] upon taking office, the Biden administration returned the U.S. to a "more traditional and evenhanded approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."[23] Biden's acting U.S. ambassador to the UN reaffirmed that the U.S. supported a negotiated two-state solution "in which Israel lives in peace and security, alongside a viable Palestinian state" and called upon the parties to refrain from taking steps that could inhibit a two-state solution, such as Israel annexing or expanding settlements in the West Bank, or the Palestinians inciting violence.[23] The administration restored U.S. diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority and resumed U.S. aid to the Palestinians, two years after Trump had effectively ended U.S. engagement with the Palestinians.[23]

Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad

After Biden took office, his administration began a broad review of the U.S.'s policy in Afghanistan,[24][25] where 2,500 U.S. troops were stationed at the beginning of Biden's term.[25]

In early February 2021, shortly after Biden took office, the bipartisan Afghanistan Study Group, a panel established by Congress in 2019, issued its report, recommended that the administration slow the further withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, keeping U.S. troops after a May 1 deadline set by the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement reached under the Trump administration.[24][25] The Study Grou, led by former general Joseph Dunford and Kelly Ayotte, warned against a complete U.S. military withdrawal because the Taliban had not fully complied with their obligations under the agreement and because the panel viewed a quick withdrawal of remaining U.S. forces as a risk factor for renewed Afghan civil war, terrorist threats, and insurgency; the panel recommended that U.S. forces be further reduced as security conditions in the country improve.[24][25]

On January 27, 2021, the day after Antony Blinken took office as Secretary of State, the Biden administration put a temporary freeze on arms sales to Saudi Arabia (specifically, of precision-guided munitions) and the United Arab Emirates (specifically, of F-35 fighter jets) pending a review of billions of dollars' worth of weapons transactions approved by the Trump administration.[26]

On February 5, 2021, shortly after taking office, Biden fulfilled a campaign pledge to end U.S. support for the five-year Saudi Arabian-led offensive in Yemen. The Saudi offensive caused a humanitarian crisis in Yemen (the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula) and failed to defeat the Iran-backed Houthis.[27] Biden called for the warring parties to adopt a cease-fire, open channels to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid, and resume the Yemeni peace process.[27] Shortly thereafter, the Biden administration also removed the Houthis from the State Department list of foreign terrorist organizations, a designation that the Trump administration had made in its final days in office, and that which threatened to halt the delivery of food and humanitarian aid to Yemenis.[28][29] The Biden administration made clear that the U.S. would continuing to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks,[26][27] would continue U.S. cooperation with the Saudi government on military and counterterrorism issues,[27] and would continued U.S. efforts against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.[27]

Biden has been a deep critic of Trump's withdrawal of the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, calling Trump's approach to Iran "a self-inflicted disaster".[30][31]

On January 20, 2021, his first day in office, Biden sent a memorandum to the Department of State reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Liberians.[32][33]

Biden has criticized the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for being "deeply authoritarian",[13] "stealing over 1 million" manufacturing jobs from Americans,[34] breaking international trade regulations,[12] unfairly subsidizing Chinese corporations, and stealing intellectual property from U.S. firms and discriminating against them.[12] Tariffs imposed by Trump on the PRC will remain in place.[35] Janet Yellen said the administration would use the United States' "full array of tools" against "abusive" PRC practices.[36] Antony Blinken, crediting the Trump administration's hawkish approach,[37] characterized the PRC as a "Techno-Autocracy" which seeks world dominance. Blinken indicated a desire to welcome political refugees from Hong Kong. He furthermore stated that Biden administration's commitment to Taiwan's defense would "absolutely endure", and that a PRC attack on the island Republic of China "would be a grievous mistake on their part".[38] The representative of Taiwan in the United States Hsiao Bi-khim (the country's de facto ambassador) was invited to attend Biden's presidential inauguration, becoming the first Taiwanese representative to attend a U.S. presidential ceremony.[39][40]

On January 20, 2021, around the time of the inauguration of Biden, China announced sanctions against Mike Pompeo and 27 other former officials who worked under the Trump presidency. A spokesperson for Biden's National Security Council called the sanctions "unproductive and cynical."[41] This comes after Pompeo, who was Secretary of State under Donald Trump, formally declared that China is committing a genocide against the Uyghurs, which the Biden campaign had previously said half a year prior in a statement in August 2020.[42] During his nomination hearing, Biden endorsed Pompeo's report that China is committing a genocide against Uyghur Muslims, reaffirming Biden's campaign stance.[43]

The Biden administration took a tough stance on China, with Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines advocating an assertive U.S. approach.[40] The Biden administration rejected China's territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law, and pledged to back Southeastern Asian nations on territorial disputes.[44][45] The administration also condemned Chinese incursions into Taiwain's air defense zone.[40]

In a call in late January 2021, shortly after taking office, Biden held a telephone call with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to reaffirm the U.S.'s committement to the U.S.-Japan security alliance,[44] including the "unwavering" American commitment to defending Japan under the U.S.-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty, including defense of the Senkaku Islands (which are administered by Japan, but claimed by China).[45] In a separate telephone call in early February 2021, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in held a telephone call in which they agreed to enhance regional cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea on key issues, including issues on North Korea, and on the importance of improving strained Japan–South Korea relations.[46]

Biden condemned the 2021 coup d'état in Burma (Myanmar); called upon the Burmese military to release State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the other officials detained by the coup plotters; and stated that "United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar's democratic transition."[47] The Biden White House indicated that it might impose or re-impose sanctions on coup perpetrators under U.S. laws.[47][48]

Some analysts and diplomats say the proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Investment between China and the European Union may damage relations with the United States as the EU hands China a political win at the expense of incoming president Biden.[49][50][51] In December 2020, Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, said he would welcome "early consultation" with Europe on China. However, instead of holding off for Biden to take office to devise a common approach toward China, the EU agreed to the deal anyway.[52]

Biden speaks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson following his inauguration

On January 23, 2021, Biden and the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a phone call.[53] With the United Kingdom assuming control over its trade policy after the completion of Brexit and the withdrawal from the European Economic Area, Johnson pushed Biden for a new trade deal that would unite a global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and United States Secretary of the Treasury-designate Janet Yellen have signaled that the Biden administration is unlikely to push for a trade deal early on in Biden's term.[54]

On January 24, 2021, Biden and the French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone call.[55] On the call, Biden spoke of strengthening bilateral ties with France and bolstering transatlantic relations through NATO and the European Union. Both Biden and Macron agreed that they need close coordination on issues such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and multilateral organizations.[56]

On January 25, 2021, Biden and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a phone call. On February 4, 2021, Biden announced he would freeze the Trump administration's withdrawal of 9,500 troops from American military bases in Berlin, Germany.[57]

On the day of Joe Biden′s inauguration, Russia urged the new U.S. administration to take a "more constructive" approach in talks over the extension of the 2010 New START treaty, the sole remaining agreement limiting the number of U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear warheads.[58] On January 26, 2021, Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed in a phone call that they would extend by five years the New START treaty, which would otherwise have expired in February 2021.[59]

On January 28, 2021, the White House reversed the Mexico City Policy and the "Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance" policy, directed the State department to withdraw the U.S. from the Geneva Consensus Declaration, and restored funding to the UN Population Fund.[60][61]

Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office, Jan 20th, that stopped the United States' withdrawal from the WHO, making Dr. Anthony Fauci the head of the delegation to the WHO.[62] The U.S. has been the largest financial contributor to the WHO, providing roughly one fifth of its annual budget.[63] Fauci stated the US would meet its financial obligations of $400–$500 million/year, and rejoin the COVAX global framework for vaccinating people in low to middle-income countries which had been stalled by lack of funding. [64]

Biden reinstated the Trump administration's COVID-19 travel bans on several parts of the world, including the Schengen Area, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. He also added South Africa to the list of countries on January 25, 2021.[65] These were scheduled to expire on Jan. 26th. The bans on entry by mainland Chinese and Iranian nationals were not scheduled to expire by Trump, and they remain in place.[66]