President Biden’s First Foreign Policy Speech: What does it mean for Southeast Asia?
February 5th, 2021, President Biden visited the Department of State and addressed for the first time his foreign policy speech. Many experts and foreign policy wonks believe that President Biden has a vast experience in foreign policy and diplomacy. His 30-year career at the senate committee on foreign affairs and 8 years of experience as the Vice-President of the US has made him a well-knowledged President with extensive inter-personal relations with world leaders.
After 4 years of uncertain and unpredictable American foreign policy, a new hope for American leadership and initiative at the world stage blossoms. From many world leaders’ congratulations notes for the new US administration, The EU President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement intrigued me most, “Europe has a friend in the White House”. Now, after his inauguration on January 21st, President Biden delivered his full foreign policy speech, in which he highlights key international issues and main policy details.
The main tag line for his speech is “America is back!”. A strong message to all of us that shows US’s eagerness to come back on the world stage as the world leader. Furthermore, I see that the main theme of the US new administration foreign policy is safeguarding and promoting democracy, human rights, equality, stability, peace, and climate change. They will use all these jargons as their foreign policy justification.
President Biden expressed US’s point of view on 2 recent global events, which are the Myanmar coup d’etat and Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny detention by the Russian Government. President Biden underscores the events as a pressure to democracy and freedom of speech. The US government urges both Myanmar military and Russian government to release the political detainees without any condition. In particular on Myanmar, he stresses that democracy must be restored and the US will work with its alliances in the region to make sure it happens.
Subsequently, the speech also gives spotlights to Russia and China. President Biden released a sentence that the US will address the growing influence of China and the determination of Russia to disrupt American democracy. Different from his predecessor, President Biden uses the term ‘US’s competitor’ to label China and He promises to confront China’s economic abuses, counter China’s aggressive and coercive action, and push back on China attacks on human rights and global governance.
Yet, the silver lining on the China and Russia issue is that the America has an interest to work and engage with them. I believe this is what the world wants. In the speech, The US and Russia have agreed to extend Nuclear Treaty for 5 years, where, this is an achievement by itself for the early days of Biden-Harris administration. However, I am still wondering what President Biden’s first engagement with China would be. What would be the agenda or issue to work together? My guest would be climate change.
Furthermore, President Biden announces additional steps for the US foreign policy, whereas, the policy stresses more on American global defense posture, middle east issue (Yemen war and Iranian growing threat to the region), and an executive order to increase refugee admissions to the US. There is no talk about Asia policy despite of China and Myanmar.
So, what does it mean for Southeast Asia? I have 2 notes.
First, I would argue that the early days of President Biden’s foreign policy will be driven by four big issues –democracy & human rights, pandemic, climate change, and peace & security. President Biden’s plan to give Myanmar sanction is a strong move and a proof for American‘s seriousness on democracy. On the pandemic, President Biden re-engages with the WHO and pledges to joint COVAX. On the climate change agenda, an executive order was signed by the President at the first day of office and his plans to host a climate leaders’ summit on the earth day this year is a strong signal of his firm believe on the issue. On peace and security, his new special envoy to Yemen and an assignment is given to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin to review the US global force posture as a form of the US’s new commitment on the peace and security issue. I believe, in foreseeable time, ASEAN leaders will be pushed by President Biden on the issue related to those 3 and in particular to the recent Myanmar issue.
Second, ASEAN countries, in particular Indonesia, should initiate the re-engagement approach with Washington DC. Do not wait, we need to send a signal to the White House that today’s Southeast Asia is different from 2016 when Vice-President Biden left the administration. President Trump’s message to Southeast Asia to choose side between China and the US is not working here in the region and we are not interested to choose. As we are all aware, it seems that President Biden’s Asia policy is still unclear. Thus, it is the right time for ASEAN to knock the door first, express our wish to the new administration, discuss common interest, as well as deliver the invitation to participate in EAS, ARF, and ASEAN — US Summit this year.
All in all, here in Southeast Asia, we are happy to welcome the new US’s administration. We believe that President Biden will revive the US leadership and show America’s ability to move global agenda and take initiative. At the same time, I hope the US can adjust with the reality that the pandemic is accelerating a shift in the world orders, whereas, we see the growing role of middle powers and regional organization.
Welcome back, America!
This piece of article is written by Calvin Khoe, an associate researcher at the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) –a Jakarta-based international relations think tank. Disclaimer the piece does not represent the institution's point of view and is purely the point of view of the writer.
