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Washington / Berlin (dpa) - The new US President Joe Biden breaks with the foreign policy of his predecessor Donald Trump and relies again on international cooperation instead of national solo efforts.
«America is back.
Diplomacy is back, ”said Biden in his first foreign policy speech since taking office.
Global challenges such as corona, climate change and the fight against the proliferation of nuclear weapons could only be tackled by states.
He wanted to revive relations with the closest allies - including Germany - after "years of neglect".
Beyond the big signal of cooperation, Biden also announced the first concrete steps that would reverse Trump's course - including the temporary stop of the planned troop withdrawal from Germany.
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Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) was satisfied with the speech.
“It was very good news yesterday that America is simply returning diplomatically and showing its strength.
That benefits everyone, I am deeply convinced of that, ”said the CDU politician on Friday.
Biden emphasized that diplomacy, strong alliances and the commitment to human rights and democracy around the world are also in America's “very best interest”.
“We don't just invest in diplomacy because it is right to do it for the world.
We do it to live in peace, security and prosperity, ”said Biden.
His course means a 180 degree turn on Trump.
The republican had terminated international treaties, made the advantage of his own country a maxim and alienated allies in a row.
Relations with Germany also became increasingly frosty under Trump.
Democrat Biden now wants a radical change of course: he wants to "regain the habit of working together and rebuild the muscles of democratic alliances that have atrophied through years of neglect and, I would say, abuse".
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In a speech at the US State Department, Biden set out broad lines of his future foreign policy. He did not comment in detail on all foreign policy fields, but made it fundamentally clear where the journey is headed: return to close cooperation with partners, commitment to international alliances and a Mix of cooperation and confrontation with rivals - always guided by the national interests of the USA.
Specifically, he went into Russia and China.
With regard to Moscow, Biden found clear words: Under his leadership, the US government would not "duck" in the face of human rights violations and aggressive behavior by Russia, he said.
Nor will he hesitate to increase the "costs" of Russia's actions - a barely hidden threat of new sanctions.
Biden also reiterated the call for the Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to be released immediately.
Russia reacted promptly, rejected the demand on Navalny and forbade “instructions” and ultimatums.
Biden's speech was characterized by “very aggressive and not constructive rhetoric”, the Kremlin said.
Despite “very many differences of opinion and different approaches to key issues”, Moscow hopes that there will be “a basis for talks”.
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Biden described China as the USA's biggest competitor.
The United States is ready to work with Beijing.
The Chinese government will be approached from a "position of strength".
He did not go into the trade conflict with China.
It is clear that Biden needs international allies if he is to curb China's increasing international influence and to face Russia with force.
Biden made no mention of Iran, which the Trump administration had treated as a priority opponent.
In addition to his statements on the general course, Biden announced several concrete steps that break with Trump's line:
- YEMEN: In a remarkable departure from the strategy of the previous administration, the US no longer wants to support combat operations in the civil war country of Yemen.
In the poorest Arab country, a military alliance led by Saudi Arabia has been fighting against the Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, since 2015.
The US military helped with intelligence and logistical support.
In addition, billions in arms sales to Riyadh were approved.
- REFUGEES: Biden also promised that the USA will take in significantly more refugees again in the future.
The annual ceiling should be raised to 125,000 in the coming budget year.
Under Trump, the limit was recently lowered to the historically extremely low value of a maximum of 15,000 people in a fiscal year.
- GERMANY: Biden had good news for the Federal Republic, which Trump treated like an opponent for four years not as a partner.
The planned withdrawal of 12,000 US soldiers from Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate is being put on hold.
Trump announced it in June 2020 without prior consultation with the federal government in order to punish Germany for what he saw as a lack of defense spending.
Had the plans been fully implemented, the troop strength would have been reduced by a third.
With almost 35,000 soldiers, Germany is the largest location of the US armed forces abroad after Japan.
Biden now wants to check the troop deployments worldwide.
This means that the withdrawal of US soldiers from Germany is not completely off the table.
However, it will very likely not take place to the extent that Trump has planned.
In his address, Biden did not comment on the other controversial issues with Germany from the Trump era.
These include, for example, the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, which he also sharply criticizes.
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Despite the new US president's signals of cooperation with allies around the world, Biden cannot be expected to do anything differently than his predecessor.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210205-99-321652 / 2
Video of the Biden speech
Transcript of the Biden speech