Biden announced that he will nominate Antony Blinken as his secretary of state. Blinken has served two decades of US foreign policy. He served as Deputy Assistant to the President and National Security Advisor to the Vice President from 2009 to 2013. He served as Deputy National Security Advisor from 2013-2015 and Deputy Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017 under Obama administration. During Clinton era, he served in State Department and in senior positions on the National Security Council. He is far more conventional pick than either of the men who served as American top diplomat under President Trump.
The appointments signal that Biden wants to move quickly on his promise to put America "at the head of the table" and lead on global issues like climate change and COVID-19. Simply, the choices show that there will be a return to professionalism in US foreign policy. Biden has made it clear that he wants to restore America's standing in the world because he sees that effort as inextricably linked to solving the pandemic and the sputtering U.S. economy. For instance, President-elect wants to return to World Health Organization since he believes that it will increaser US influence inside the organization and making the US a bigger player in global response.
Even though Blinken is seen as a centrist, he held regular calls with progressive groups during the campaign and is seen as flexible by advocates on major priorities for the left, including supporting efforts to bring the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to an end, reforming the War Powers Resolution, restoring the refugee resettlement program curtailed by Trump, and cutting off arms sales to Saudi Arabia. In 2017, Blinken noted “in the absence of an engaged, diplomatically energized America, others will set the agenda, shape the rules, and dominate international institutions – and probably not in ways that advance our interests or values.” He believes building US soft power and influence.
He knows most of the global leaders. EU leaders will be relieved to see him back on the table. Blinken has expressed a willingness to use tariffs in coordination with American partners and allies. He believes , tariffs can serve a purpose of punishing China for trade violations, stating that his team would “aggressively enforce American trade laws.” There are a number of putative benefits to acting multilaterally on trade, as opposed to unilaterally. With allies on board, they can impose their own tariffs on China, preventing China from finding other potential trading partners to replace the United States. Blinken believes that an effective reset will require the combined force of American allies – with allies and a combined 50-60% of world GDP, the United States and allies have leverage to reset relations with China on American terms.
The past four years have forced allies to contingency plan for a world without American influence, while allowing adversaries the opportunity to expand their influence. As Secretary of State, Mr. Blinken will simultaneously embrace China as a strategic challenger and seek rapprochement with the world’s second largest economic player.
It is politically impossible to maintain the kind of open military relationship with the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia should aim paving for less militarized U.S policy and presence in more peaceful region. Therefore, the war in Yemen should be ended. To end the war in Yemen and stop the human right violation, U.S. should not stop arms sales to the Kingdom. Otherwise, Kingdom will seek out other partners such as China and Russia which would be less concerned with human rights in the region or in Yemen. When it comes to ban on arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Blinken would likely to lean on policy of terminating specific types of weapons contracts vital to Saudi interest. Thus, would push to make a shift in Saudi policy. Meanwhile, U.S. should increase efforts helping the Kingdom to defend against legitimate threats from the Houthis and Iran.
These are already major signs that US foreign policy would turn sharp from one side to another under Secretary Blinken. But it remains to be seen how it will affect the global stability in future.
