Foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration

The foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration emphasizes the repair of the United States' alliances, which Biden argues were damaged during the Trump administration. The administration's goal is to restore the United States to a "position of trusted leadership" among global democracies in order to address challenges posed by Russia and China. Both Biden and his Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have repeatedly emphasized that no other world power should be able to surpass the United States, either militarily or economically. Biden's foreign policy has been described as having ideological underpinnings in mid-twentieth century liberal internationalism, American exceptionalism, and pragmatism.

Since assuming office, President Biden has sought to strengthen the transatlantic alliance between the U.S. and Europe. He has reaffirmed the United States' commitment to the NATO alliance and collective security. Additionally, Biden has reinstated the U.S. as a member of the Paris Climate Agreement and has implemented other measures to address climate change. The administration places great emphasis on international cooperation in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as bolstering U.S. defenses against foreign-sponsored cyberattacks, cyber espionage, and trade and industrial policy competition.

Biden's extensive experience in foreign affairs includes serving as the chairman or ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for twelve years. He also played a significant role in shaping foreign policy during the Obama presidency. The Biden administration continues to uphold policies that enjoy bipartisan consensus, particularly those related to competition with China and the reduction of U.S. military presence in the Greater Middle East.

Key advisors in Biden's U.S. foreign policy team include Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. Biden has received a mixed reception for his response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, receiving praise for his support of Ukraine and NATO and criticism for his vague aims in the conflict and limitations in assistance to Ukraine. Critics have faulted him for a perceived mismatch between his objectives and the resources allocated for defense budgets, trade policies, stability in the Middle East, and the promotion of human rights.

Appointments

Further information: Cabinet of Joe Biden

Biden's 2021 foreign policy team

Kamala Harris

William Burns

Jake Sullivan

Avril Haines

Antony Blinken

Linda Thomas-Greenfield

Lloyd Austin

Biden administration Foreign Policy Personnel
Vice President	Harris (2021–present)
White House Chief of Staff	Klain (2021–2023)	Zients (2023–present)
Secretary of State	Smith (2021)	Blinken (2021–present)
Secretary of Defense	Norquist (2021)	Austin (2021–present)
Ambassador to the United Nations	Mills (2021)	Thomas-Greenfield (2021–present)
Director of National Intelligence	Shiao (2021)	Haines (2021–present)
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency	Cohen (2021)	Burns (2021–present)
Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs	Sullivan (2021–present)
Deputy National Security Advisor	Finer (2021–present)
Trade Representative	Pagan (2021)	Tai (2021–present)

Americas

Brazil

See also: Brazil–United States relations

Brazil–U.S. relations have undergone a notable shift under the Biden administration, reflecting both cooperation and occasional differences on various issues. During the previous administration, then-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist and ally of his predecessor, Donald Trump, enjoyed close ties with the United States. However, following President Biden's election, a recalibration in US-Brazil relations became apparent. Challenges arose at first due to the two leaders' ideological differences and Bolsonaro's praise for Trump and baseless allegations about the legitimacy of Biden's election. Despite the differences, both Biden and Bolsonaro expressed a willingness to collaborate on climate change and environmental protection.

After the election of the current Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a left-wing former president, the relationship between the two countries shifted again. In a meeting between the two leaders in February 2023, Biden and da Silva both signified a renewed emphasis on collaboration and dialogue between the two countries. President Biden emphasized that fostering dialogue, peace, and democracy in Brazil has been a key priority for the United States.

President Biden and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, February 2023

Addressing climate change and environmental stewardship, particularly in the Amazon rainforest, emerged as a crucial area for both Biden and da Silva. President da Silva's administration has committed to significant changes in Brazil's environmental approach, including combating deforestation and achieving "zero deforestation" by 2030. These environmental goals align closely with President Biden's priorities, offering potential avenues for collaboration between the two nations.

Nevertheless, differences between the leaders have arisen on certain issues. Notably, there are diverging views regarding China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. President da Silva has exhibited caution in openly criticizing China, as it is Brazil's largest trading partner. Additionally, Brazil has shown reluctance to fully endorse US calls for greater opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Canada

Main article: Canada–United States relations § Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden (January 2021 – present)

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. Issues discussed included the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery therein, climate change and environmental issues, NATO, indigenous issues, and other international relations. 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."

President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, March 2023

Biden held his first bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau on February 23, 2021, virtually. Issues discussed were COVID-19, climate change, detention of the Two Michaels in China, the future of NORAD, systemic racism and gender equality.

USMCA and the "Buy American" campaign

Biden admitted that the USMCA negotiated by the Trump administration was "better than NAFTA" In November 2021, Biden hosted the first "Three Amigos" meeting since 2016. Trudeau accused Biden's tax-credit proposal for union-made electric vehicles of breaking the USMCA rules. Economic tensions arose from protectionist measures and trade incentives for American industry as part of Biden's "Buy American" campaign.

Central America

Nicaragua

Main article: Nicaragua–United States relations

The Biden administration has continued the American policy of support for Nicaraguan civil society groups, human rights, and free elections against a government accused of human rights violations, political suppression, and corruption. An extremely controversial attempt by longtime Nicaraguan Sandinista President Daniel Ortega to cut social benefits led to widespread protests and a crackdown against opposition politicians, protesters, and press condemned by an Inter-American Commission on Human Rights task force and the Organization of American States as involving crimes against humanity and violations of human rights.

The administration has expressed "[deep] concern about the escalating crackdown" and called for Ortega to reverse course. In a June 22, 2021 United Nations Human Rights Council meeting, the United States joined 58 other countries to call for the release of jailed presidential candidates and dissidents and rehabilitation of Nicaraguan democracy. On July 12, 2021, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on 100 Nicaraguan legislature and judiciary accused of enabling "attacks on democracy and human rights" by Ortega and Murillo, Ortega's wife and Vice President. Biden's FY2022 budget request included $15 million of aid for Nicaragua, all of which will be directed towards democracy and rights programs. On August 6, 2021, the State Department placed visa restrictions on 50 immediate family members of Nicaraguan officials accused of benefiting from Ortega's regime; this came amidst an upcoming November 2021 election in which many opposition candidates have been arrested or barred from running.

Several bills proposed by the 117th Congress concern U.S. relations with Nicaragua, particularly with regards to Nicaraguan democracy and respect for human rights.

Northern Triangle

Main articles: Honduras–United States relations, Guatemala–United States relations, and El Salvador–United States relations

Vice President Harris arriving in Guatemala City, Guatemala, June 2021

The Northern Triangle refers to the three Central American countries of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, usually in reference to the nations' poverty, political instability, and crime/violence as motivating factors of their residents' legal and illegal immigration to the United States.

Mexican President López Obrador said that President Biden has pledged $4 billion for development in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on February 6 that agreements with those three countries to send asylum-seekers back to those countries until their cases were heard were suspended.

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Guatemala as part of her first foreign trip in office. In Guatemala City, Harris held a joint press conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei where she issued an appeal to potential migrants, stating "I want to be clear to folks in the region who are thinking about making that dangerous trek to the United States-Mexico border: Do not come. Do not come."

Cuba

Main article: Cuba–United States relations § Biden administration

The Biden administration has kept the sanctions against Cuba that were issued by the previous presidential administration, despite one of Biden's campaign promises being to lift restrictions against the country.

In June 2021, the Biden administration continued America's tradition of voting against an annual United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The resolution was adopted for the 29th time with 184 votes in favor, three abstentions, and two no votes: the U.S. and Israel.

In July 2021, protesters gathered in front of the White House and demonstrators called on President Joe Biden to take action in Cuba. The Biden administration sanctioned a key Cuban official and a government special forces unit known as the Boinas Negras for human rights abuses in the wake of historic protests on the island. On July 22, 2021, directly before hosting a meeting with Cuban American leaders, President Biden stated "I unequivocally condemn the mass detentions and sham trials that are unjustly sentencing to prison those who dared to speak out in an effort to intimidate and threaten the Cuban people into silence." President Biden has also ordered government specialists to develop ideas for the U.S. to unilaterally extend internet access on the island, and he has promised to enhance backing for Cuban dissidents.

In August 2021, Biden sanctioned three additional Cuban officials who were also reportedly involved in the suppression of anti-government protesters in Cuba.

In December 2021, 114 Democratic House members signed a letter that urged President Biden to lift restrictions and sanctions against Cuba in order to make their access to food and medicine easier.

In January 2022, Biden again sanctioned Cuba officials, this time placing travel restrictions on eight members of the Cuban government.

In May 2022, the Biden Administration lifted some of the sanctions, with policy changes such as expansion of flights to Cuba and resumption of a family reunification program. In January 2023, the Biden administration made changes to its immigration policy, to limit the amount of Cuban migrants entering the United States.

Haiti

Main article: Haiti–United States relations

Biden condemned the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse in 2021. He later announced that he would be sending troops to guard the embassy in Port-au-Prince. The Haitian government asked the US, as well as the United Nations and Canada, for more troops, but this was rejected.

Mexico

Main article: Mexico–United States relations § Biden administration

President Biden and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, July 2022

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–U.S. border by targeting the root cause, increasing resettlement capacity, providing legal alternatives 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 U.S. would improve in the future.

Biden held his bilateral meeting with President Obrador on March 1, 2021, virtually.

On January 17, 2024, a Republican-led non-binding resolution denouncing the Biden-Harris administration's handling of the Mexico–United States border passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 225–187, with 211 Republicans and 14 Democrats supporting it.

On February 13, 2024, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached on a 214-213 party-line vote by the United States House of Representatives over his handling of the Mexico–United States border.

On July 25, 2024, the United States House of Representatives voted 220–196 to pass another Republican-led resolution condemning the Biden-Harris administration for their handling of the Mexico–United States border. Six Democrats voted with all Republicans in the House to pass the resolution.

Peru

Main article: Peru–United States relations

Biden has received substantial criticism due to his administration's open support for Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, whose government has widely been described as authoritarian.

Venezuela

Main article: Venezuela–United States relations § Presidency of Joe Biden

With respect to the crisis in Venezuela, Biden retained a hard-line approach, continuing to recognize 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. The administration indicated that it would not rush to lift U.S. sanctions on Venezuela, but would consider easing sanctions if Maduro took "serious steps" to negotiate seriously with the opposition. The administration continued support for humanitarian aid to Venezuela. In early March 2021, the administration granted Temporary Protected Status for an 18-month period to Venezuelans who were already living in the U.S., having fled the Maduro regime due to the country's economic collapse and repression.

East Asia

China

See also: China–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–present), and Taiwan–United States relations

Policy overview and continuity

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan meet with Chinese officials in Alaska, March 2021

Biden has largely continued the China policies of his predecessor Donald Trump. Biden has criticized the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) for being "deeply authoritarian", stealing "over 1 million" manufacturing jobs from Americans, breaking international trade regulations, unfairly subsidizing Chinese corporations, and stealing intellectual property from U.S. firms and discriminating against them. Tariffs imposed by Trump on the PRC will remain in place. Biden said he had spent more time in private meetings with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping than any other world leader. He has criticized Xi as "a guy who doesn't have a democratic bone in his body. This is a guy who is a thug." Janet Yellen said the administration would use the United States' "full array of tools" against "abusive" PRC practices. Antony Blinken, crediting the Trump administration's hawkish approach, characterized the PRC as a "techno-autocracy" which seeks world dominance. Blinken indicated a desire to welcome political refugees from Hong Kong. Furthermore, he stated that the Biden administration's commitment to Taiwan's defense would "absolutely endure", and that a PRC attack on Taiwan "would be a grievous mistake on their part". 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. Taiwan is one of the main flashpoints in U.S.-China conflicts.

Trade and economic strategies

In late February 2021, Biden ordered the government to undertake a 100-day supply chain review, examining sourcing vulnerabilities for key components (such as semiconductors, rare earth minerals, and certain batteries) used in important goods (such as computers, electric vehicles, pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment, and military equipment), including vulnerabilities from "strategic competitor nations." Biden stated that the review would assess how to avoid having the U.S. "rely on a foreign country, especially one that doesn't share our interests or our values, in order to protect and provide for our people during a national emergency." The review was part of a broader competition between the U.S. and China for global economic influence.

Western commentators on U.S.–China relations, along with United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, have noted that industrial policy measures signed by Biden in the summer of 2022, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and Inflation Reduction Act, were influenced in part by desire to protect American interests in case of Chinese attacks on Taiwan, and to promote economic competition with China.

Some geoeconomics experts see an acceleration of the US–China rivalry as "inevitable" given the tensions manifested openly in the last months of 2022 and early 2023. In a series of interviews with BBC News and Asharq News, Nicolas Firzli, director of the EU ASEAN Centre, argued that "Cold War 2 with China [was] part of the Biden Doctrine, and the only remaining point of convergence between Biden and a Republican–dominated Congress [...] January 2023 is the moment when things crystalized irreversibly".

In an April 2023 speech delivered at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said of US-China economic relations: "The United States will assert ourselves when our vital interests are at stake. But we do not seek to 'decouple' our economy from China's. A full separation of our economies would be disastrous for both countries. It would be destabilizing for the rest of the world. Rather, we know that the health of the Chinese and U.S. economies is closely linked. A growing China that plays by the rules can be beneficial for the United States. For instance, it can mean rising demand for U.S. products and services and more dynamic U.S. industries."

In a December 2023 speech delivered at the US-China Business Council marking its 50th anniversary, Yellen reiterated: "I and other U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that the United States does not seek to decouple from China. This would be damaging to both our economies and would have negative global repercussions."

In May 2024, President Biden directed a series of tariff increases on Chinese imports to counteract "unfair trade practices", effective over the next few years. Starting in 2024, tariffs on steel and aluminum will rise from 0–7.5% to 25%. Similarly, tariffs on ship-to-shore cranes and lithium-ion EV batteries will increase to 25%, and for solar cells, the rate will jump to 50%. The tariff on electric vehicles will see a significant rise to 100%. By 2025, semiconductor tariffs will escalate from 25% to 50%. Additional increases will occur in 2026, including tariffs on non-EV lithium-ion batteries and critical minerals like natural graphite and permanent magnets, all set to rise to 25%. Furthermore, medical products such as syringes and needles will see an increase to 50%, and rubber medical gloves will rise to 25% by 2026, alongside other personal protective equipment increasing to 25% in 2024. These adjustments are aimed at protecting American industries from China's competitive economic practices.

Diplomatic engagements and human rights

On January 20, 2021, around the time of the inauguration of Biden, the PRC government 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." This occurred 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. During his nomination hearing, Blinken endorsed Pompeo's report that China is committing a genocide against Uyghur Muslims, reaffirming the Biden campaign's stance.

The first high-level talks between the Biden administration and China were held in Anchorage, Alaska on March 19, 2021. Participants included secretary of state Tony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan from the U.S. side, and the Chinese Communist Party Politburo member and highest-ranking diplomat Yang Jiechi and foreign minister Wang Yi from the Chinese side. The public meeting was contentious, with Blinken and Sullivan raising questions on China's human rights records, cyberattacks, its threats against Taiwan, its crackdown in Xinjiang and Hong Kong, and other issues of U.S. interest. Yang and Wang countered by saying that the U.S. "did not speak to China from a position of strength", "did not serve as a model to others", and that "China's rise was unstoppable". Yang further accused the U.S. of "inciting other countries to attack China" to which Sullivan responded by saying Washington would always support its allies. In the week ahead of the talks, the administration met with U.S. allies in Asia and imposed sanctions on senior Chinese officials.

In April 2021, it was reported that the Biden administration was rallying U.S. allies in consideration of a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The U.S. Department of State denied the report, asserting that "Our position on the 2022 Olympics has not changed. We have not discussed and are not discussing any joint boycott with allies and partners".

At their annual meeting on June 13, 2021, leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) democracies sharply criticized China for a series of abuses. The G7 nations—the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan—had been hesitant about acting separately. Pressured by Biden, they unanimously agreed on a sharp criticism, followed the next day by a similar, strong unanimous attack by NATO members. The criticisms focused on the mistreatment of the Muslim Uyghur minority, the systematic destruction of democracy in Hong Kong, repeated military threats against Taiwan, unfair trade practices, and lack of transparency regarding the origins of COVID-19. China has rejected all criticism of what it considers to be strictly internal policy matters. On the other hand, the constellation of critics is essential to the Chinese economy in terms of jobs, investments and purchases of its huge quantity of exports.

President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Bali, November 2022

Talks between U.S. delegation headed by Biden and Chinese delegation headed by Xi at the Filoli Estate in Woodside, California, November 2023

Biden held his second telephone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on September 9, 2021. On September 21, 2021, Biden urged the U.N. General Assembly to consider "relentless diplomacy" in amidst rising tensions between the U.S. and China. Without mentioning China by name, he said the U.S. is "not seeking a new Cold War or a world divided into rigid blocs." Meng Wanzhou returned to China on September 24.

Biden held his first virtual meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping on November 15, 2021.

In late June 2023, Blinken traveled to China and met with Xi; subsequent public statements by both countries were largely positive, with Xi and Blinken emphasizing that both sides have a responsibility to manage relations. Shortly, following Blinken's visit, President Joe Biden's reference to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a “dictator” at an event for his 2024 reelection campaign, drew condemnation from China, which issued a démarche to U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns’ office.

In April 2024, Biden and Xi held a call wherein they stressed the importance of peace and continued cooperation on the 2023 Woodside agreements. Biden warned Xi against interfering in the U.S. elections later this year, and remained committed to free and open navigation of the Taiwan Straits and protection of American interests in high technology.

Taiwan and security measures

The Biden administration took a tough stance on China, with Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines advocating an assertive U.S. approach. The Biden administration rejected China's territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea that violate international law and pledged to back Southeast Asian nations on territorial disputes. The administration also condemned Chinese incursions into Taiwan's air defense zone. In February 2021, the administration called upon the Chinese government and the World Health Organization to release data about the origin of COVID-19; China had refused to grant WHO investigators access to the raw data on early cases of the virus. The British government backed Biden's call for transparency.

During his first visit to the Pentagon on February 9, 2021, Biden urged for the United States Department of Defense to "review" its national security policy concerning China. Biden held his first telephone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on February 10, 2021; during the call, Biden raised issues of "Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices" as well as the government's "crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan"; the conversation also involved the COVID-19 pandemic and "shared challenges of global health security, climate change and preventing weapons proliferation."

Taiwan's peace and stability was mentioned in the leader level joint statement after Japanese Prime Minister Suga visited President Biden in April 2021.

On October 21, 2021, Biden said the U.S. would defend Taiwan if China attacked, though the White House said later there was no change in policy towards the island.

In May 2022, the State Department updated its Taiwan fact sheet to reinstate a line saying “we do not support Taiwan independence.”

In November 2023, Biden and Xi met at the Filoli estate in Woodside, California. They agreed to restart cooperation on narcotics crackdowns, a military-to-military hotline, risk and safety management of AI, and increase commercial flights and student exchanges between the two countries, while Biden pledged not to change the U.S. stance of One China, or his concerns over improving China–Russia relations, or his shift toward economic nationalism amid a wave of tech export controls.

On February 22, 2024, the U.S. State Department approved $75 million in weapons sale to Taiwan, the 13th such approval under the Biden administration. The announcement was made shortly prior to a bipartisan U.S. House Select Committee on China delegation led by Mike Gallagher arrived to Taiwan.

Hong Kong

See also: Hong Kong–United States relations

On December 17, 2023, the U.S. State Department again called for Jimmy Lai's release shortly before his trial was set to begin. Spokesperson Matthew Miller said: "We urge Beijing and Hong Kong authorities to respect press freedom in Hong Kong. Actions that stifle press freedom and restrict the free flow of information – as well as Beijing and local authorities’ changes to Hong Kong's electoral system that reduce direct voting and preclude independent and pro-democracy party candidates from participating – have undermined Hong Kong's democratic institutions and harmed Hong Kong's reputation as an international business and financial hub."

On March 29, 2024, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated upon issuing the annual Hong Kong Policy Act report: "This year, I have again certified that Hong Kong does not warrant treatment under U.S. laws in the same manner as the laws were applied to Hong Kong before July 1, 1997. This year’s report catalogs the intensifying repression and ongoing crackdown by PRC and Hong Kong authorities on civil society, media, and dissenting voices, including through the issuance of bounties and arrest warrants for more than a dozen pro-democracy activists living outside Hong Kong. In response, the Department of State is announcing that it is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on multiple Hong Kong officials responsible for the intensifying crackdown on rights and freedoms, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act."

Japan

Main article: Japan–United States relations

President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, April 2024

In their first telephone call on January 27, 2021, Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to the U.S.-Japan security alliance, 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). Suga was the first foreign leader to meet with Biden in person when he visited Washington, D.C. on April 16, 2021.

The Biden administration expanded trilateral relations with Japan and South Korea amid concerns about as well as tensions with China and North Korea, as reflected in the historic August 2023 summit among Biden, Fumio Kishida, and Yoon Suk-yeol at Camp David and the commitments made about further economic and security cooperation since.

The first Indo-Pacific Dialogue, building upon commitments made during the August 2023 Camp David summit, was held in Washington D.C. on January 5, 2024. In a joint statement released by the US State Department, which described the dialogue mechanism (that will be hosted annually) as a new chapter in the trilateral relationship, Japan (represented by foreign ministry foreign policy bureau director-general Kobe Yasuhiro), Korea (represented by deputy minister for political affairs Chung Byung-won), and the US (represented by Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink) focused on discussing collaborating with Southeast Asian and Pacific Island countries and emphasized the need for regional economic security enhancement.

North Korea

Main article: North Korea–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–)

An early Biden administration effort to open a line of communication with North Korea was rebuffed. Following the launch of two missiles by North Korea in March 2021, the Biden administration questioned if they should impose sanctions or return to the summit-style diplomacy of the Trump administration.

South Korea

Main article: South Korea–United States relations

President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, April 2023

In their first telephone call on February 3, 2021, Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to enhance regional cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and South Korea on key issues, including issues on North Korea and China, and on the importance of improving strained Japan–South Korea relations. In March 2021, the U.S. and South Korea reached a military cost-sharing agreement, with South Korea increasing its annual payments to the U.S. by $1 billion (or about 13%). The U.S.-South Korea agreement resolved a deadlock inherited from the Trump administration. The U.S. also announced U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises (which Trump had scaled back and questioned the need for). The Biden administration affirmed the U.S.'s "unshakable" security commitment to South Korea under the Mutual Defense Treaty, to the readiness of U.S. forces in Korea, and to "reinvigorating and modernizing our democratic alliances around the world." Moon was the second foreign leader to meet with Biden in person when he visited Washington, D.C. on May 21, 2021.

After Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, South Korean public finance and trade officials complained that its green industrial policy package, which encourages U.S. manufacturing of renewable energy and electric vehicles, threatens the U.S.–South Korean partnership on climate action and countering China's influence, sparking fears of a trade war.

Europe

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Brussels, March 2021

European Union

Main article: European Union–United States relations

President Biden with President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, June 2021

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. 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.

In the calls with the European leaders, President Biden spoke of bilateral relations, bolstering transatlantic relations through NATO and the European Union, and closely coordinating on key issues, such as Iran, China, Russia, Afghanistan, climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and multilateral organizations.

President Biden promised to repair "strained" relationships with European allies in contrast to his predecessor, Trump. At the Munich Security Conference, Biden warned that "Putin seeks to weaken the European project and our NATO alliance." Biden called for multilateralism to strengthen the defensive position and economic power of the transatlantic alliance, and solve global problems like the COVID pandemic and climate change.

However, in late 2022 and 2023, the Biden administration implemented the CHIPS and Science Act (partly to counter the European Chips Act) and Inflation Reduction Act, both of which included measures to improve the U.S. domestic research sector, build domestic supply chains, and increase business and consumer tax incentives solely for American-made semiconductors, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, among others. The EU member states' finance ministers have complained against these measures, claiming the United States is implementing harmful protectionist measures. The European Commission has responded by proposing the Net Zero Industry Act as part of the European Green Deal. Biden and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen agreed on March 10, 2023, to negotiate a common critical minerals stockpile deal and reforms to their respective green industrial policy packages.

France

Main article: France–United States relations

President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, December 2022

On January 24, 2021, Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone call.

In September 2021, the French ambassador was recalled to Paris after the AUKUS security pact had been made by Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. The measure was unprecedented; in almost 250 years of diplomatic relations, France had never before recalled its U.S. ambassadorship. The Biden administration tried to placate French anger.

In October 2021, Biden met with Macron and admitted that his administration was "clumsy" in its handling of the nuclear submarine deal with Australia, which deprived France of billions in defense contracts.

Germany

Main article: Germany–United States relations

President Biden and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, October 2024

On January 25, 2021, Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a phone call.

In early February 2021, Biden froze the Trump administration's withdrawal of 9,500 troops from U.S. military bases in Germany, Biden's freeze was welcomed by Germany, which said that the move "serves European and transatlantic security and hence is in our mutual interest."

Greece and Cyprus

Main articles: Greece–United States relations and Cyprus–United States relations

President Biden and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, May 2022

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. On 13 October 2021, Greece and the U.S. upgraded their defense pact, signing an agreement that allows expanded access for U.S. troops to train and operate from four additional bases in Greece indefinitely. Greece also has a bilateral maritime defense pact with France, and the parties hold these pacts to be complementary to NATO.

Ireland

Main article: Ireland–United States relations

President Biden and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, March 2023

On March 17, 2021, St. Patrick's Day, Biden continued tradition by meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, though this time virtually due to the pandemic. They discussed COVID-19, security issues and Northern Ireland as Biden emphasized his support for the Good Friday Agreement. In an interview with MSNBC, Martin said that "In President Biden, we have perhaps the most Irish American president since John F. Kennedy, and his election was greeted with great affection and warmth".

After a St. Patrick's Day 2023 visit to the White House from new Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Biden visited Ireland from April 12 to 15, 2023, and met with President Michael D. Higgins and Varadkar, and addressed the Oireachtas soon after, to discuss the Good Friday Agreement's continuation, trade, tech and industrial policy, security issues, the Russo-Ukrainian war, and European Union-U.S. relations. Biden also toured the various Irish towns where his ancestors lived, and met with distant cousins.

Kosovo and Serbia

Main articles: Serbia–United States relations and Kosovo–United States relations

In February 2021, Biden sent letters to Kosovo's acting President Vjosa Osmani and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, urging the normalization of Kosovo–Serbia relations based on "mutual recognition" and expressing support for economic normalization agreements; Biden's engagement with the issue signaled a new U.S. focus on European security. Biden has said recognition of Kosovo is necessary for normalization of Serbia–U.S. relations.

Poland

Main article: Poland–United States relations

President Biden and Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, February 2023

President Biden visited Poland on March 25–26, 2022. He held talks with Polish leaders and met Ukrainian refugees. He also delivered a speech in the courtyard of Royal Castle in Warsaw. He referred to the historical experiences of Poland, the Russian-Ukrainian war and the aggressive policy of Russia. The purpose of Biden's trip to Poland was to express NATO's unity and the U.S. commitment to defend its allies.

President Biden visited Poland for a second time February 20–22, 2023.

Russia

Main article: Russia–United States relations

See also: Russia–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–present)

President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit meeting in Geneva, June 2021

Through 2020, Biden and Putin had met once, in Moscow in March 2011, when Biden was vice president and Putin was prime minister. After an official group meeting, which Biden characterized in his memoir as "argumentative," he and Putin met privately, with Biden saying "Mr. Prime Minister, I'm looking into your eyes," (a reference to a 2001 meeting between Putin and President Bush, who later said "I looked the man in the eye...I was able to get a sense of his soul"). Biden continued, "I don't think you have a soul." Putin replied, "We understand each other."

As vice president, Biden had urged the Ukrainian government to eliminate middlemen such as oligarch Dmytry Firtash from the country's natural gas industry, and to reduce the country's reliance on imports of Russian natural gas. Firtash has said he was installed as a middleman by Russian organized crime boss Semion Mogilevich; Putin agreed with the appointment. Since 2014, Firtash has been fighting extradition to the U.S. under a federal indictment. He was involved in efforts by Rudy Giuliani and his associates in seeking information that might damage Biden's 2020 presidential prospects.

The United States intelligence community found that Russian intelligence actors have been spreading narratives of alleged corruption about Biden, his family and Ukraine since at least 2014.

On the day of Biden's inauguration, the Russian government 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. In Biden's first telephone call as president with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on January 26, 2021, Biden and Putin agreed to extend the New START treaty (which was set to expire in February 2021) by an additional five years.

Biden and his administration condemned human rights violations by the Russian authorities, calling for the release of detained dissident and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny, his wife, and the thousands of Russians who had demonstrated in his support; the U.S. called for the unconditional release of Navalny and the protestors and a credible investigation into Navalny's poisoning. On March 2, 2021, the U.S. and European Union imposed coordinated additional sanctions on Russian officials, as well as the FSB and GRU, over the Navalny poisoning and imprisonment. The State Department also expanded existing sanctions from the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act that had been imposed after the poisoning of Skripal.

The Biden administration is also planning to impose sanctions against Russia over the 2020 SolarWinds cyberespionage campaign, which compromised the computer systems of nine federal agencies. Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said that the response "will include a mix of tools seen and unseen, and it will not simply be sanctions."

The Biden administration's comprehensive review into Russian activities has included an examination of reports that the Russian government offered to Taliban-linked fighters to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

On March 16, 2021, a DNI report on the 2020 U.S. federal elections was declassified. It had confirmed that both the governments of Russia and Iran had been attempting to influence the 2020 United States elections, with Putin approving the operation of influencing the elections. Although no evidence was found of any votes, ballots, or registrations being directly changed by foreign actors, the assessment did find that Russian efforts were aimed at "denigrating President Biden's candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the US". On the following day, Biden commented on the new information in an interview with ABC News that Putin will "pay a price", also labeling Putin a "killer".

Meeting with NATO allies in Brussels two days before his scheduled June 2021 summit meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Biden refuted an assertion by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that NATO had agreed to admit Ukraine to the alliance. Ukrainian allegiance has been a persistently contentious issue between Russia and the United States.

Speaking to American military personnel in Britain en route to the summit, Biden said, "We're not seeking conflict with Russia. We want a stable predictable relationship. I've been clear: the United States will respond in a robust and meaningful way if the Russian government engages in harmful activities." He added he would "meet with Mr. Putin to let him know what I want him to know."

Following the meeting, Biden stated to reporters that he warned Putin that the U.S. would use offensive cyber operations if Russia did not crack down on cyberattacks against "critical infrastructure."

In May 2021, the Biden administration waived sanctions against the Russian-owned Nord Stream 2 pipeline. In August 2021, the Biden administration imposed new specific sanctions on a Russian ship (Ostap Sheremeta) and two companies involved in the Nord Stream 2, while issuing an executive order that would allow for sanctions to be imposed on certain pipelines.

President Biden holds a video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, December 2021

President Biden delivers remarks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The 2021–2022 crisis between Russia and Ukraine, which involved Russian troops build up along the border, resulted in renewed tensions between Russia and NATO. On December 30, 2021, Biden and Putin discussed the crisis over the course of a 50-minute phone call. Bilateral talks began in Geneva on January 10, 2022, to discuss concerns about Ukraine and Russia's concern of NATO postering in Eastern Europe. The talks were led by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman. Biden warned of a "distinct possibility" Russia would invade Ukraine. One week before the invasion, Biden said there was a "very high" risk Russia would invade, and Blinken spoke at a United Nations Security Council meeting, saying he wants to prevent a war, which he believed would start with a manufactured pretext for Russia to invade.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Biden condemned Putin, calling him "the aggressor" and announcing additional sanctions on Russia. On February 25, the White House announced the US would personally sanction Putin and foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. Sanctions on Putin's inner circle were increased in multiple rounds over the following months. On February 28, the Biden administration announced sanctions against Russia's central bank, prohibiting Americans from doing business with the bank and freezing the bank's assets. Additional sets of sanctions included a ban on Russian oil and gas imports. On April 6, 2022, the White House said that the U.S., alongside the G7 and EU, had imposed "the most impactful, coordinated, and wide-ranging economic restrictions in history" and that day announced new sanctions in response to the Bucha massacre. In May, the rest of the G7 also committed to a phase out of Russian oil. The United States blocked various Russian bank entities.

On 27 September 2022, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre encouraged Russian men fleeing their home country to avoid being drafted to apply for asylum in the United States. In early 2023, the Biden administration resumed deportations of Russians who had fled Russia to avoid mobilization in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and political persecution.

In October 2023, Biden asked Congress for $61 billion in funding for Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Biden signed a record $886 billion defense spending bill into law on December 22, 2023.

Ukraine

Main articles: Ukraine–United States relations, 2022 visit by Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States, and 2023 visit by Joe Biden to Ukraine

Further information: Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian invasion of Ukraine, and List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington, D.C., December 2022

President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, February 2023

Biden pledged support for the sovereignty of Ukraine. Biden also opposed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, describing it as a "bad deal for Europe". The pipeline project was criticized for the leverage it would have given to Russia in isolating Ukraine, In 2021, a joint statement of the Ukrainian and Polish governments urged Biden to take more decisive action against Nord Stream 2. During the 2021–2022 Russo-Ukrainian crisis, Biden imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2 in retaliation against Russian troop build ups in February 2022.

Previously in March 2021, the Biden administration announced a $125 million military aid package to Ukraine, including Mark VI patrol boats, radars and medical equipment. On September 1, 2021, President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in the White House and discussed Euro-Atlantic cooperation. Various agreements were announced by the Biden administration. An additional $60 million in U.S. aid to Ukraine was announced, bringing the yearly total to over $400 million. Ukraine and the U.S. made a joint statement on strategic cooperation. President Biden stated, "We're revitalizing the Strategic Partnership Commission between our nations." and promised to continue to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Ukraine following the 2.5 million sent. The joint statement includes points such as "The United States and Ukraine continue to oppose Nord Stream 2, which we view as a threat to European energy security", endorsed the Normandy Format, and announced cooperation on cybersecurity, satellite awareness and R&D.

Leading up to the Russian invasion, Biden repeatedly held up military aid to Ukraine, drawing frustration from Congress and the Ukrainian government. A $100 million aid package was held up in June 2021 and a $200 million package was held up in December 2021. Biden also publicly announced that his response would vary in the event of a "minor incursion" from Russia, instead of a larger invasion, harming Ukrainian confidence in the Biden administration.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Biden supported defensive and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In March 2022, Biden supported the international response against Russia and pledged to accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. In May, he signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 and a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine. From July, the Biden administration supplied HIMARS to Ukraine. On August 1, the State Department announced $550 million in security aid to Ukraine focused on supplies for HIMARS systems. On July 6, 2023, President Biden approved the provision of cluster munitions to Ukraine. In 2022, Congress approved more than $112 billion in aid to Ukraine. In October 2023, the Biden administration requested $61.4 billion more for Ukraine for the year ahead.

The Biden administration has repeatedly opposed Ukraine utilizing US-provided equipment against military targets within Russia, citing concerns about escalation. Deliveries of long-range ATACMS missiles were blocked for over a year due to US concerns about potential Ukrainian strikes across the Russian border, and were only allowed on the condition that they never be used to hit targets within Russia. The US has also refused to provide military intelligence to aid Ukraine in cross-border strikes. After Ukraine struck targets inside Russia using its own drones, US officials, including Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, urged Ukraine to cease the attacks. Ukraine has criticized the restrictions on utilizing western-provided weapons against targets in Russian territory, with Zelenskyy saying that it was Russia's "biggest advantage" in the war. Russia has utilized the restrictions on weapons usage to create safe zones for its military equipment and personnel just outside of Ukraine's borders. The restrictions have also been used by Russia to safely launch airstrikes, drone attacks, and missile strikes across its border with Ukraine, as well as its 2024 Kharkiv offensive. Ukrainian requests for exemptions to weapons restrictions have repeatedly been turned down. In June 2024, Ukraine missed an opportunity to destroy multiple Russian SU-34 fighter bombers near their border after a White House denial. In July, the Biden administration blocked a Ukrainian request to strike missile launch sites responsible for partially destroying a children's hospital in Kyiv.

In addition to restrictions on provided weaponry, the Biden administration has also blocked or delayed deliveries of weapons systems altogether due to fears of escalation. Shortly before the 2022 invasion, the Biden administration blocked deliveries of Stinger and Javelin missiles, including attempted deliveries from Baltic allies. Ukraine requested F-16 fighters from the US since 2022, only receiving them in July 2024 after prior denials from the Biden administration. The US has also blocked Poland from donating its own MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine over escalation fears. The Biden administration initially refused to send HIMARS to Ukraine, before allowing them after modifications were made to prevent any strikes against Russia itself. Other weapons systems that were blocked or delayed for Ukraine included Patriot surface-to-air missiles, M1 Abrams tanks, and Gray Eagle drones. Ukrainian officials have criticized the halting pace of weapons deliveries as contributing to battlefield losses.

In 2022, Biden told Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Defense Austin to tone down their rhetoric after stating that the US would like to see a Ukrainian victory in its war with Russia. Multiple foreign policy analysts have questioned whether Biden wishes to see Ukraine victorious, noting Biden's repeated limitations on aid sent to Ukraine's military and his ambiguous aims in the conflict.

United Kingdom

Main article: United Kingdom–United States relations

President Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, September 2021

President Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, June 2023

President Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, July 2024

On January 23, 2021, Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had a phone call. With the U.K. 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. The Biden administration signaled that it is unlikely to push for a U.K.-U.S. free trade agreement (a major priority for Johnson) early on in Biden's term, as Biden has expressed a desire for the U.S. to make "major investments in American workers and our infrastructure" before entering into new free trade agreements.

On June 13, 2021, President and Mrs. Biden met with Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor Castle while on their visit to the U.K. for the G7 Summit. The visit included a Guard of Honour and afternoon tea with the Queen. After the meeting, Biden said that the Queen was "very generous" and he told reporters that "she reminded me of my mother". Biden also revealed that during their meeting, the Queen asked about Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

On July 10, 2023, President Biden visited the UK, holding meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and King Charles III. Discussions centered around climate change and strengthening NATO, while controversy arose over the US decision to supply cluster munitions to Ukraine, which are banned in many NATO countries.

New Atlantic Charter

On June 10, 2021, Biden and then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued the New Atlantic Charter while in Cornwall, England. The Charter has been described as a "revitalized" version of the original Atlantic Charter which was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill eighty years prior. A statement issued by the White House described the New Atlantic Charter as aimed to meet the "new challenges of the 21st century," while also "building on the commitments and aspirations set out eighty years ago."

Northern Ireland

Biden has routinely iterated his commitment to maintaining peace in Northern Ireland by resisting the possibility of a hard border as a result of Brexit. When asked by The Irish Times in March 2021 about comments made by Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney that the U.K. "cannot be trusted" on the Northern Ireland protocol, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated that "President Biden has been unequivocal about his support for the Good Friday Agreement". As part of his own Irish-American heritage, Psaki stated that Biden "has a special place in his heart for the Irish" underpinning his commitment to Northern Ireland's peace.

On April 11, 2023, Biden visited Belfast where he gave a speech to students at the new Ulster University campus there, and met with the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to discuss continuing the Good Friday Agreement on its 25th anniversary, and improving U.K.–U.S. economic relations.

Middle East

Biden has been a proponent of his "counterterrorism plus" strategy in the Middle East. Biden told the Council on Foreign Relations that his foreign policy will destroy al-Qaeda and Islamic State, ensuring their remnants will not reconstitute themselves.

On the day Biden took office, the new administration adopted tighter controls on drone strikes and special forces raids in places where there are few U.S. troops, including Libya and Yemen. The policy halted the Trump-era policy that gave U.S. military officials more discretion to launch counterterrorism attacks without White House oversight. The temporary measure was put in place while the Biden administration completes an interagency review into the drone policy. The review focuses on whether to restore a 2016 order issued by Obama (revoked in 2019 by Trump) that would require the government to issue an annual report disclosing estimates of the numbers of suspected terrorists and civilian casualties, and whether to return to the Obama-era centralized oversight system (in which proposed drone strikes could be approved only if the suspect presented a "continuing and imminent threat" to Americans, and were subject to high-level intelligence vetting in an effort to minimize civilian casualties and blowback) or to keep elements of the Trump-era approach (which was looser and delegated more power to the military and CIA to determine whether to carry out a strike).

Afghanistan

Main article: Afghanistan–United States relations

Further information: War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), 2020–2021 U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and Fall of Kabul (2021)

President Biden meets with national security officials following the fall of Kabul, August 18, 2021

A U.S. Air Force C-17 evacuating Afghan nationals out of Kabul on August 15, 2021

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

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 Doha agreement reached under the Trump administration. The Study Group, led by former general Joseph Dunford and former U.S. Senator 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.

Biden's Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the U.S. policy review with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in February 2021, saying that the U.S. was committed to "a just and durable political settlement and permanent and comprehensive ceasefire" and would continue to consult "with Afghan leaders, NATO allies and international partners" on the future of the February 2020 deal. Later that month, in an unusually blunt letter from Blinken to Ghani, the U.S. expressed frustration with the stalled Afghan negotiations, in which Ghani was frequently intransigent and resisted the formation of an interim Afghan government that would advance the peace process but also probably end his presidency. The U.S. proposed a UN-led peace conference, and urged Ghani to participate "to move matters more fundamentally and quickly toward a settlement and a permanent and comprehensive cease-fire."

On April 13, 2021, the White House announced that the remaining 2,500 troops in Afghanistan would withdraw by September 11, 2021. The U.S. government commented that it would continue to support the Afghan government in regards of a possible Taliban military victory. The deadline was extended from that of May 1, 2021 previously announced by the Trump administration.

By early July 2021, most of the American troops in Afghanistan were withdrawn. Biden addressed the withdrawal, stating that: "The likelihood there's going to be the Taliban overrunning everything and owning the whole country is highly unlikely." However, on August 15, amid an offensive by the Taliban, the Afghan government collapsed and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, leaving the Taliban in full control of Afghanistan.

During the initial siege of Kabul and the subsequent collapse of the Afghan government, Biden was vacationing at Camp David. Facing mounting criticism for the administration's handling of the event, Biden returned to the White House on August 16 where he delivered an address to the American people defending his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from the country. In his remarks, Biden blamed the Afghan National Army for failing to adequately defend against the Taliban saying, "American troops cannot and should not be fighting in a war and dying in a war that Afghan forces are not willing to fight for themselves."

The events in Afghanistan were one of the causes for Biden's approval rating declining in July and August 2021.

Many commentators have drawn comparisons between the withdraw and evacuation of U.S. forces in Afghanistan with the fall of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War.

President Biden announces the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, August 1, 2022

On July 31, 2022, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in Kabul by an American drone strike approved by Biden.

On September 24, 2024, the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to recommend U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken be held in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena seeking information about the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

On September 25, 2024, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning the Biden-Harris Administration for the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The resolution passed 219 - 194, with ten Democrats and all Republicans voting in favor.

Caucasus

On April 24, 2021, on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Biden made a statement recognizing the Armenian genocide as a genocide after he indicated support for the congressional recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The move angered Turkey, which does not recognize the World War I-era systematic slaughter of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as genocide and seeks to persuade other nations to do the same.

As designate, Secretary of State Blinken reaffirmed his support for keeping NATO's door open for Georgia.

On November 18, 2021, the U.S. State Department praised the independent medical team that criticized the prison hospital conditions that Mikheil Saakashvili was placed in, and urged the Georgian government to treat Saakashvili "fairly and with dignity" and guarantee his right to a fair trial.

Iran

Main article: Iran–United States relations § 2021–present: Biden administration

Biden criticized Trump's approach to Iran as "a self-inflicted disaster," citing his withdrawal of the U.S. from the international nuclear agreement with Iran and escalation of tensions in 2020. In early February 2021, Biden indicated that the U.S. would not lift sanctions on Iran until that country stopped enriching uranium. A few weeks later, Biden formally extended an offer to restart diplomatic talks on a new nuclear deal. Talks started shortly after that and continued until March 2022 when Iran had additional demands such as delisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps from the US FTO designation list which led to talks being stalled.

Israel and Palestine conflict

Main articles: Israel–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–present), Palestine–United States relations § Biden administration, and Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Further information: 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Israel–Hamas war, and List of military aid to Israel during the Israel–Hamas war

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, August 2021

Secretary Blinken participates in the Negev Summit, March 2022

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. 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."

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 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. In February 2021, the U.S. Senate adopted, by a 97–3 vote, an amendment to a budget resolution that affirmed the U.S. intent to keep the embassy in Jerusalem.

Consistent with Biden's statements during the campaign, upon taking office, the Biden administration returned the U.S. to a "more traditional and evenhanded approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict." 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. 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.

Biden's first call as president with a Middle Eastern leader was with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in mid-February 2021; on the call, Biden reaffirmed U.S. support for Israeli security, for the recent normalization of relations between Israel and a handful of Arab and Muslim nations, and for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, and the two leaders discussed cooperation against threats from Iran. On April 7, 2021, the Biden administration announced its intention to restore hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid to the Palestinians.

Blinken attended the Negev Summit on 27 March 2022 hosted by foreign minister Yair Lapid of Israel and counterparts from Morocco, UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt. In July 2022, it was announced by the White House that Biden would travel to the Middle East and meet with the leaders of Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Saudi Arabia.

President Biden delivers remarks on Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, October 2023

After Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023, Biden issued a statement condemning the attacks and saying he was ready to offer "all appropriate means of support to the Government and people of Israel". On October 18, 2023, Biden arrived in Israel and was received at Ben-Gurion airport by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu On October 23, 2023, he rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war, stating "We should have those hostages released and then we can talk". Biden stated he had "no confidence" in the death totals reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.

In October 2023, Biden called on Congress to pass $14.3 billion in emergency military aid to Israel. Israel already receives $3.8 billion a year in military aid. The Biden Administration bypassed Congress twice in December 2023 to rush weapons to Israel worth a total of about $250 million dollars.

In February 2024, following an announcement by the Israeli government regarding an increase of Israeli settlements within the West Bank, the Biden administration announced it had reversed a 2019 Trump-era decision that had declined to recognize Israeli settlements as a violation of international law. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated this position stating that the settlements were "inconsistent with international law" and that "[Settlement expansion] only weakens, it doesn’t strengthen, Israel’s security,".

The Biden administration had vetoed 3 UN ceasefires for Gaza on October 18th, December 8th and February 20th. In March 2024, the United States abstained from voting on UN Security Council resolution 2728, a significant departure from its usual practice of vetoing ceasefire resolutions. Resolution 2728, introduced by elected members including Mozambique, called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan and the unconditional release of all hostages, while also demanding humanitarian access for civilians. This abstention followed the veto of a previous U.S. proposal by Russia and China, which was criticized for being ambiguous and lacking international support. The U.S. abstention heightened tensions between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly regarding a planned military operation in Rafah, Gaza, leading Netanyahu to cancel a high-level meeting with a White House delegation. Despite criticism for not condemning Hamas, the abstention reflected the Biden administration's frustration with Netanyahu and its commitment to negotiating a ceasefire coupled with the release of hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu with US Vice President Kamala Harris, July 25, 2024

On April 18, 2024, the Biden Administration vetoed a UN resolution for Palestinian statehood. Biden signed a bill to send $26 billion to Israel plus $1 billion in aid for Gaza on April 24.

In May 2024, President Joe Biden blocked a shipment of heavy bombs to Israel, citing concerns about potential civilian casualties in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, where many Palestinian refugees had sought shelter. This decision aimed to prevent the use of these bombs in a planned Israeli ground operation, marking a significant departure from previous U.S. support for Israel's military actions. Biden affirmed support for Israel's defense but emphasized withholding weapons for offensive operations that could harm civilians. This move highlighted growing tensions between the Biden administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. While some critics argued that Biden's decision undermined Israel's security, others viewed it as a necessary step to protect civilian lives and address the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Historically, the U.S. has used military aid as leverage to influence Israeli policies.

On July 10, 2024, the Biden administration resumed shipments of the 500-pound bombs to Israel, which were halted in May over concerns about the humanitarian impact of Israel's use of them in killing Palestinians in Gaza.

On September 17, 2024, thousands of handheld pagers used by Hezbollah simultaneously exploded across Lebanon and Syria. The attack came just a day after the Biden administration's special envoy Amos Hochstein visited Israel and warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against provoking a major escalation in Lebanon.

On September 26, 2024, U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib called on United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken to resign in a social media post, citing the ProPublica story alleging he had rejected internal government findings about Israel blocking aid to Gaza. The internal findings, ProPublica reported, could have implications for U.S. military aid to Israel because of U.S. laws — which require an end to weapons shipments to countries that block U.S.-backed humanitarian aid.

Jordan

Main article: Jordan–United States relations

President Biden, King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, February 2024

During a July 19, 2021 meeting at the White House with Jordanian King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Hussein, Biden expressed "strong U.S. support for Jordan," a longtime U.S. partner in the Middle East, pushed for improving Israel–Jordan relations, and supported military cooperation between Jordan and the U.S. He and King Abdullah II also discussed Jordan's economic future and the American donation of 500,000 COVID-19 vaccines to the Kingdom. The Biden Administration has continued to provide military and economic aid to Jordan, whose struggling economy has been damaged by the COVID-19 pandemic.

North Africa

President Biden and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, July 2022

The U.S. called for Russian, Turkish, and UAE forces (and their proxies) to immediately withdraw from Libya, after those countries ignored the January 23, 2021 deadline for foreign forces and mercenaries to leave the country (as set by a UN-backed ceasefire signed in October 2019 to end the war among the countries' factions and their foreign supporters). Richard M. Mills Jr., the Acting U.S. Ambassador to the UN, said, "We call on all external parties, to include Russia, Turkey and the UAE, to respect Libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military intervention in Libya."

The Biden administration pressed the Egyptian government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to improve its poor human rights record, but nonetheless approved in February 2021 a $197 million sale of Rolling Airframe Missiles for the Egyptian Navy's coastal defenses, citing the country's role in regional security as a major non-NATO ally.

Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf states

Main articles: Saudi Arabia–United States relations and Yemen–United States relations

President Biden with Arab leaders at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Saudi Arabia, on July 16, 2022

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.

In February 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. 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. 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. The designation had threatened to halt the delivery of food and humanitarian aid to Yemenis. The Biden administration made clear that the U.S. would continue to defend Saudi Arabia against Houthi attacks, continue U.S. cooperation with the Saudi government on military and counterterrorism issues, and continue U.S. efforts against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Biden chose to deal directly with King Salman, bypassing the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), the de facto Saudi leader, whose standing in Washington was seriously damaged by the assassination of dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, his jailing of Saudi dissidents, and his role in the Yemeni war. The administration announced that it would not deal with MBS in any capacity except Saudi defense minister, the position he holds in addition to being crown prince and designated heir. In an attempt to repair the kingdom's image to a deeply skeptical new administration, the Saudi government undertook certain reforms in early 2021 that the U.S. had urged, including releasing imprisoned activist Loujain al-Hathloul and some other political prisoners, beginning judicial reforms, and revising state-approved school textbooks to eliminate certain material that promoted Islamic extremism, radicalization, and anti-Semitism. In February 2021, the Biden administration publicly released a report (long withheld by the Trump administration) by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, containing U.S. intelligence's assessment that MBS had approved the Saudi operation that led to Khashoggi's brutal murder in October 2018, basing this conclusion on "the Crown Prince's control of decisionmaking in the Kingdom, the direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muhammad bin Salman's protective detail in the operation, and the Crown Prince's support for using violent measures to silence dissidents abroad, including Khashoggi."

President Biden and UAE's President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, July 2022

After the report was released, the administration announced a new "Khashoggi ban" policy, allowing the U.S. government to bar visas for persons working for a foreign government that are directly engaged in "serious, extraterritorial counter-dissident activities, including those that suppress, harass, surveil, threaten, or harm journalists, activists, or other persons perceived to be dissidents for their work." The travel ban was imposed against 76 Saudi citizens, including Ahmad Asiri, the ex-Saudi intelligence chief who helped orchestrate the Khashoggi operation, and on the Saudi Royal Guard's Rapid Intervention Force, the MBS bodyguard unit under the crown prince's personal control. Despite pressure from human rights groups and some Democrats to do so, the administration did not impose any direct sanctions on MBS personally, determining that the damage to Saudi–U.S. relations would be too grave. Administration officials announced that it intended to use the "Khashoggi ban" policy against officials in other countries, such as Russia, China, and Turkey, that have attempted to silence critics living in the U.S., Europe, or other free nations.

Human rights groups have urged the Biden administration to prioritize the restoration of human rights in Bahrain as a key component of the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

An administration source cited that they were preparing an overhaul of arms export policy, aimed at gaining balance between American defense contractors and commitment to human rights. The new policy is said to affect arms sales to countries accused of human rights violations. Major arms sales like the $23 billion arms deal with the UAE also remained in limbo following the new shift in the policy, as progressives in the President's party are against the sale due to Emirates' role in the Yemeni Civil War.

Syria

Main article: Syria–United States relations § Under President Joe Biden (2021–present)

President Biden announces the death of Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, February 3, 2022

On February 15, 2021, an Iranian-backed militia launched a missile attack on the airport in Erbil in northern Iraq, killing a Filipino contractor with the U.S.-led military coalition and wounding six others, including five Americans. In retaliation, Biden ordered an airstrike on the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah (KH) and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS) militias in eastern Syria, just across the border with Iraq (between Al Qaem and Abu Kamal). This was the administration's first military action. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby described the American retaliation as a proportionate response meant to punish the perpetrators but not to escalate hostilities with Iran. Biden called off a second planned strike at the last minute after military reconnaissance identified civilians in the intended target.

On June 27, 2021, the U.S. carried out a round of airstrikes against three operational and arms storage facilities of Iran-backed militias in the Syria-Iraq border region. The Pentagon press secretary stated that the action was in response to UAV attacks by the militias.

On February 3, 2022, ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi killed himself during a counterterrorism operation by the U.S. Special Forces in Atme in northwest Syria.

Turkey

Main article: Turkey–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–present)

President Biden and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, June 2022

In his confirmation hearings, Blinken stated that "we are very clear eyed" about the challenges posed by Turkey and said that the Turkish government under Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was "not acting like an ally" and would review if sanctions were necessary against Erdoğan's government due to its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems. Under the previous administration, Turkish–U.S. relations were strained over policy differences regarding Syria, Turkey's oil exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, and Turkey's role in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, as well as Turkey's demands (rejected by the U.S.) for the extradition of dissident Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen.

Biden praised President Erdoğan for "doing a great job" regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the enlargement of NATO.

Oceania

Australia

See also: AUKUS and Australia–United States relations § Biden administration (2021–present)

President Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, October 2023

On September 15, 2021, Biden held a meeting about AUKUS with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison to announce that the U.S. will share their nuclear submarine technology with Australia as part of a nuclear propulsion and defense partnership with the country and the U.K. It was the first time since 1958, when then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the technology to Great Britain, that America shared nuclear submarine technology with the British. Biden stated that the deal was a way to "address both the current strategic environment in the (Indo-Pacific) region and how it may evolve".

South Asia

India

Main article: India–United States relations

President Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, September 2021

In their first telephone call on February 8, 2021, Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed to close cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and promoting a "free and open Indo-Pacific region" and agreed that the "rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld" in India's regional neighbor Burma, in which the military seized power in a coup. Addressing regional security issues posed by China, Biden and Modi expressed "support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad" (the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia). Biden made no direct mention of the ongoing farmers' protests, but noted that a "shared commitment to democratic values" serves as the bedrock for the India–U.S. relationship. Modi stated after the call that both he and Biden are "committed to a rules-based international order" and "look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership."

Pakistan

Main article: Pakistan–United States relations

Relations with Pakistan had been frosty, with Wendy Sherman making it clear that the administration will not currently build further bilateral relations as it has with India. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan was reportedly "angry" for not having received a phone call from Biden yet, as of October 2021. Pakistan-India relations, and the situation in Afghanistan, played big parts in this - after Taliban militants took control of Kabul two months prior, Khan described it as “breaking the chains of slavery”. By the end of the year, Imran Khan was reportedly the "only major world leader" with whom Biden had not spoken with on the phone.

When Khan was facing a no-confidence motion in parliament, he blamed the United States for seeking to oust him, calling it part of an "international conspiracy". The United States denied these claims. Khan lost the no-confidence vote on April 9, 2022 and Shehbaz Sharif took his place as Prime Minister of Pakistan. In August 2023, according to a leaked diplomatic cable at the March 7, 2022 meeting from Pakistan received by The Intercept, the US State department encouraged removal of Imran Khan owing to his neutral stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Southeast Asia

ASEAN

President Biden with ASEAN leaders at the U.S.–ASEAN summit, May 2022

On October 27, 2021, President Biden attended a virtual summit with ASEAN (East Asia Summit) which was last attended by a U.S. president in 2017. Biden urged "shared vision for a region where every country can compete and succeed on a level playing field." The 9 of 10 attending ASEAN members were Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Myanmar's military government skipped the summit amid controversies with Brunei, current chair of the summit, and Cambodia. Biden's comments on the summit focused on democracy in the region and the international rules-based order. The National Security Council's East Asia director, Edgard Kagan, clarified the aims of the Quad as not intended to be "an Asian NATO" and exists alongside the existing ASEAN. Additionally, the White House planned to fund $102 million towards climate, health, economic and education programs to advance strategic partnership with ASEAN.

In 2022, President Biden announced the elevation of US-ASEAN relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the U.S.–ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.

In September 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris attended the 11th US–ASEAN summit in Jakarta. In her prepared remarks, she announced a planned establishment of the first U.S.-ASEAN Center in Washington D.C. through a public-private partnership, with a mission of further strengthening US-ASEAN ties.

On December 14, 2023, the State Department announced the formal opening of the U.S.–ASEAN Center in D.C., launched in partnership with Arizona State University. Describing the center as a demonstration of "the next step in the US-ASEAN relationship," Elizabeth M. Allen noted it will be "an inclusive and accessible space for scholars to dig into important issues and research," "a convening platform for the diplomatic community and U.S. officials as well as think tankers, civil society, and private sector representatives," "a venue for business roundtables that strengthen networks," "a forum for conferences that engages leading minds and diverse young people on the pressing issues," as well as "a unique site for high level dialogues."

Indonesia

Main article: Indonesia–United States relations

President Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, November 2023.

On November 13, 2023, during a meeting between President Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the two countries announced a new comprehensive strategic partnership. However, Indonesia continues to maintain a policy of neutrality between the United States and China.

Myanmar

Main article: Myanmar–United States relations

Biden condemned the 2021 coup d'état in Myanmar and called upon the military to release State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the other officials whom they had detained. He stated that the "United States opposes any attempt to alter the outcome of recent elections or impede Myanmar's democratic transition." Biden called upon the military to "relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma" and imposed new U.S. sanctions against the military coup plotters (some of whom were already under sanctions for atrocities against the Rohingya minority), including freezing $1 billion in assets.

Philippines

Main article: Philippines–United States relations

President Biden and Filipino President Bongbong Marcos, May 2023.

According to a report by Reuters, in 2021 the Biden administration participated in a U.S. military-run propaganda campaign to spread disinformation about the Sinovac Chinese COVID-19 vaccine, which had begun in 2020 during the Trump administration. The campaign was described as "payback" for COVID-19 disinformation by China directed against the U.S. Primarily targeting people in the Philippines, the campaign used fake social media accounts to spread disinformation, including that the Sinovac vaccine contained pork-derived ingredients and was therefore haram under Islamic law.

On the sidelines of the September 2022 United Nations General Assembly meeting, Filipino President Bongbong Marcos met with Biden and gave assurances that the Philippines would remain "partner, ally, friend" to the U.S. Biden acknowledged that the U.S.-Philippine relationship faced "rocky times", but assured Marcos that the U.S. wishes to keep strengthening it. The two leaders discussed increased cooperation on renewable energy, the South China Sea, relations with Taiwan, the Russia-Ukraine war, energy and food prices, and human rights.

In response to increased military threats from China, the Biden administration's efforts in early 2023, led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, resulted in Marcos' administration opening up access to four Philippine military bases (on top of the current five) for the U.S. military, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and considering negotiating with the U.S. and key ally Japan on a common defense pact.

Sub-Saharan Africa

President Biden delivers remarks to the African Union Summit, February 2021

President Biden meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, September 16, 2022

President Biden with African leaders at the United States–Africa Leaders Summit, December 2022

Eritrea and Ethiopia

Main articles: Ethiopia–United States relations and Eritrea–United States relations

On January 27, the Department of State demanded that Eritrea withdraw from the Tigray War in Ethiopia.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, an appointee of President Biden, is scheduled to meet with Ethiopian officials in early August 2021 with the goal of preventing war-induced famine in Tigray. Power has called for "unimpeded humanitarian access to prevent famine...and meet urgent needs." Ethiopia accuses Tigray rebel forces (the TPLF and TDF) of blocking aid access; Tigray forces blame the Ethiopian federal government.

Liberia

Main article: Liberia–United States relations

On January 20, 2021, his first day in office, Biden sent a memorandum to the U.S. State Department reinstating Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to Liberians.

Somalia

Main article: Somalia–United States relations

Although most U.S. troops were withdrawn from Somalia in early January 2021, an undisclosed number of U.S. troops participated in a training program against Al-Shabaab jihadists on January 31.

On July 20, 2021, the U.S. Air Force carried out the first airstrike against position of the al-Shabaab group under the Biden administration. The airstrike took place in the city of Galkayo, Somalia.

Sudan

Main article: Sudan–United States relations

USAID Administrator Samantha Power arrived in Sudan on July 31, 2021, to meet with senior transition officials. Sudan has been ruled by military and civilian leaders ever since the deposition of longtime Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir in a military coup amid popular protests. Power will meet chairman of the transitional military-civilian Sovereignty Council Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok at Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

Power described Sudan as "an inspiring example to the world that no leader is ever permanently immune from the will of their people;" she is expected to strengthen U.S. ties with the pro-Western transitional government and leverage USAID's resources to support Sudan's transition to a civilian democracy.

Multilateral organizations and policy

President Joe Biden meeting with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in September 2022.

Consistent with his campaign pledges, Biden brought the U.S. back into several multilateral organizations and agreements.

Human rights

In early February 2021, soon after taking office, the Biden returned the United States to the United Nations Human Rights Council (which the Trump administration withdrew from in 2018) and directed the State Department "to re-engage immediately and robustly" with the council; Blinken, Biden's secretary of state, said that "The best way to improve the Council, so it can achieve its potential, is through robust and principled U.S. leadership."

Biden also rescinded the Mexico City Policy. The policy, first adopted under Reagan, has been alternately imposed under Republican administrations and rescinded under Democratic ones, and was extended in scope under Trump. Biden's repeal of the rule was welcomed by, among other, Doctors Without Borders and Amnesty International. Biden also withdrew the U.S. from the Geneva Consensus Declaration, an anti-abortion declaration that the U.S. had joined under Trump, and restored funding to the UN Population Fund.

COVID-19 pandemic response and global health

Biden signed an executive order on his first day in office, halting the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization that Trump had ordered (but which had not yet taken effect). Biden also appointed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's chief infectious disease scientist, as the head of the delegation to the WHO. The U.S. has been the largest financial contributor to the WHO, providing roughly one-fifth of its annual budget. 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.

Biden renewed COVID-19-related travel bans barring non-U.S. nationals from several parts of the world, including the Schengen Area, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, from entering the U.S. These bans had initially been imposed by Trump, but before leaving office Trump had ordered that the bans expire on January 26, 2021. The day before the travel bans were set to expire, Biden extended them and also added South Africa to the list of affected countries. The bans on entry by mainland Chinese and Iranian nationals were not scheduled to expire by Trump and remained in place.

The G7

President Biden and G7 leaders, June 2024

On February 19, 2021, the Group of Seven met virtually in a call convened by the U.K.'s Boris Johnson. Joe Biden spoke for fifteen minutes and declared "America is Back" with an end to Trump's "America First" Policy. Biden stressed the importance of the rise of China especially in the areas of cybersecurity and technology.

Biden attended the 47th G7 Summit in June 2021 alongside the U.K.'s Boris Johnson, Canada's Justin Trudeau, Japan's Yoshihide Suga, France's Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel, Italy's Mario Draghi, and the EU represented by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel. While at the G7 reception on June 11, Biden also met with Queen Elizabeth II before their scheduled meeting at Windsor Castle on June 13. At the G7 Summit talks, the leaders discussed the pandemic, environmental action, and how to challenge the rise of China on the world stage.

Environment and energy

President Biden at the COP26 U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, November 2021

In January 2021, Biden stated that addressing climate change is "an essential element of U.S. foreign policy and national security."

In February 2021, President Biden signed an executive order for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Accords, a 2015 agreement addressing climate change and emissions targets. In November 2021, Biden attended COP26 in Glasgow, stating that "we only have a brief window before us to raise our ambitions" to switch to renewable energy sources.

In November 2021, the U.S. coordinated with China, India, Japan, the U.K., and South Korea to release oil from strategic petroleum reserves to lower prices.

In December 2021, the Biden administration halted federal funding to new fossil fuel projects overseas.

In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act. Climate action policy analysts such as Anna McGinn at the American think tank Environmental and Energy Study Institute hailed the green industrial policy act as helping uphold the United States' Paris Agreement commitments, but criticized it as failing to create a cohesive national climate strategy. Jason Bordoff at the International Monetary Fund criticized its protectionist measures for opening America to potential trade war. The measures were acknowledged by United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai, the think tank Center for Strategic International Studies, and political scientist Jiachen Shi as strategic countermeasures to the rise of China.

Nuclear weapons

During Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign, he indicated that he would support a no-first-use or sole-purpose nuclear policy whereby the United States would only use nuclear weapons to respond to or deter nuclear attacks; however, the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review contained no such provision.

Economic nationalism and trade trends

See also: Economic policy of the Joe Biden administration

Overview

Under the Biden administration, there has been a notable shift toward economic nationalism, marked by policies aimed at reducing dependence on foreign economies and protecting domestic industries. This approach reflects a broader trend of prioritizing American economic interests, often through measures that limit foreign competition and bolster U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in global supply chains, especially in critical sectors like healthcare, semiconductors, and essential goods. The disruptions caused by the pandemic underscored the need for greater self-sufficiency and resilience in the U.S. economy, prompting policies aimed at reducing reliance on foreign suppliers. There has also been growing public support for economic policies that prioritize American jobs and industries. Many Americans have expressed concerns over the loss of manufacturing jobs to countries like China and the impact of globalization on local economies. This sentiment has fueled support for economic nationalism and policies that aim to "bring jobs back" to the U.S.

The Biden administration's economic nationalism builds on trends initiated during the Trump administration, which implemented significant tariffs on Chinese goods and promoted the "America First" agenda. While Biden has diverged from Trump in several areas, the focus on protecting domestic industries and addressing trade imbalances has remained a consistent theme.

Key policies and measures

Tariffs and trade barriers

The Biden administration has largely maintained many of the tariffs imposed by the previous administration, particularly those on Chinese imports. These tariffs, originally intended to address unfair trade practices and reduce trade deficits, have remained in place as tools for leveraging negotiations and protecting domestic industries.

In May 2024, President Biden directed a series of tariff increases on Chinese imports to counteract "unfair trade practices". These tariffs are set to incrementally increase over the next few years, covering a range of goods from steel and aluminum to electric vehicles and semiconductors. For example, tariffs on steel and aluminum will rise to 25%, while those on electric vehicles will reach 100% by 2026.

Strengthening domestic production

President Biden's significant investments in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure represent a concerted effort to reinforce national economic sovereignty and reduce dependency on foreign resources. By injecting nearly $700 billion into domestic manufacturing and clean energy through initiatives like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and the CHIPS and Science Act, the administration is revitalizing American industrial capabilities. These efforts target critical sectors such as semiconductors and electric vehicles, aiming to diminish reliance on foreign manufacturing hubs and secure the economic benefits—such as job creation and technological advancements—within the U.S.

The emphasis on developing domestic sources of critical minerals and investing in local battery production is a strategic move towards resource independence, aligning with economic nationalism. This approach aims to reduce vulnerabilities in global supply chains by sourcing essential raw materials domestically. In the energy sector, substantial funding for clean energy projects and infrastructure seeks to achieve energy sovereignty, lessening reliance on foreign oil and gas. These investments support environmental goals while enhancing national security and economic resilience, highlighting a commitment to economic nationalism by prioritizing domestic self-sufficiency and bolstering national infrastructure.

The administration has reinforced the "Buy American" campaign, promoting policies that prioritize the procurement of American-made goods in federal contracts. This has led to tensions with trade partners who view these measures as protectionist.

A 100-day supply chain review was initiated to identify vulnerabilities in key sectors, including semiconductors, rare earth minerals, and pharmaceuticals. This review aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly from strategic competitor nations like China.

Impact on trade relations

Tensions with allies

The Biden administration's emphasis on economic nationalism has led to tensions with several U.S. allies, particularly in Europe. The European Union has expressed significant concerns over the protectionist measures in the Inflation Reduction Act, which they argue undermine free trade principles and could harm European industries. In response to these measures, the European Commission has proposed the Net Zero Industry Act as part of the European Green Deal to counter U.S. policies. This act aims to boost the EU's green technology sector and reduce reliance on U.S. imports by promoting domestic production and innovation within Europe.

Responses from trade partners

Countries affected by the new tariffs and trade barriers have sought to negotiate with the U.S. while also looking to strengthen their own economic defenses. This has led to a series of bilateral and multilateral trade discussions aimed at mitigating the impact of U.S. economic nationalism. For example, nations such as Japan and South Korea have engaged in talks with the U.S. to secure more favorable trade terms and ensure continued access to the American market. Additionally, these countries are investing in their domestic industries to reduce their dependency on U.S. goods and protect their economies from future trade disruptions.

Global trade dynamics

The Biden administration's focus on rebuilding domestic industries and securing supply chains has raised concerns about potential trade wars and long-term impacts on global trade dynamics. While American manufacturers and workers have largely welcomed these policies, global trade partners worry that these protectionist measures could lead to retaliatory tariffs and a fragmentation of global trade networks. This shift could result in decreased international trade volumes and increased costs for consumers and businesses worldwide, as countries implement their own protective measures in response to U.S. policies.

Trade deficits

Despite the protectionist measures, the U.S. continues to experience significant trade deficits, particularly with China. Efforts to reduce these deficits through tariffs have had mixed results, often leading to retaliatory measures from trade partners.

Shifts in global supply chains

The U.S. policies emphasizing domestic production have led to notable shifts in global supply chains, driven largely by the need to mitigate risks associated with U.S.-China trade tensions and rising protectionism. Companies are increasingly relocating manufacturing to regions less impacted by these tensions, such as North America or Southeast Asia, fostering diversification and resilience in their supply networks. This strategic shift moves away from the "just-in-time" model, which relies on minimal inventory, towards a "just-in-case" approach that maintains larger inventories to buffer against disruptions, enhancing overall supply chain stability.

Investments in technology and innovation

By channeling substantial funds through initiatives such as the CHIPS and Science Act, the U.S. aims to reclaim leadership in critical sectors such as semiconductors and sustainable energy. These investments are designed to enhance domestic production and counter China's technological advancements, emphasizing research and development (R&D) with billions committed to establishing entities including the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) to drive innovation and workforce development. Additionally, the creation of regional technology hubs accelerates growth in sectors such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing, ensuring that technological advancements benefit communities nationwide. This comprehensive approach not only strengthens U.S. economic and national security but also aligns with broader foreign policy objectives to build technological alliances, reaffirming the U.S.'s influential position on the world stage.

The State Department has gestured toward the practice of 'friendshoring', or cultivating investment partnerships with allied countries seeking to develop their own tech sectors. For example, it has awarded $200 million in partnerships, to academia and foreign companies as of July 2024 under the Act's International Technology Security and Innovation Fund. The State Department has partnered with the governments of Costa Rica, Panama, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Mexico to distribute these funds, for technology incubation purposes. The State Department has also brokered an agreement known as the Minerals Security Partnership with Australia, Canada, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and European Union, to strengthen investments in raw minerals. The State Department has also continued to grow the number of parties to the Artemis Accords, non-binding codes of conduct for Moon landings and lunar resources in support of the Act's Artemis program, to 43.

Reception

According to right-leaning defense policy analyst Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute, Biden's foreign policy is "a mess" that has "failed to match ends and means".

In conservative academic Walter Russell Mead's opinion, Biden "underestimated the seriousness of the threat to the American led world system and misunderstood its causes". Contrary to Biden's stated goals, "Russia isn't parked, Iran isn't pacified, and both are coordinating policies with China", which is increasingly aggressive. The "wishful thinking" and "strategic incompetence" is thought to be not Biden's alone, but a "generational failure of the bipartisan foreign policy establishment.

A mid-term "report card" was published by Foreign Policy magazine, consisting of surveys of 20 "experts" from the magazine's staff, universities, and mainstream think tanks, using American schools' letter grades. According to the magazine, Biden received two "A-"s on Russian relations from author Angela Stent and Liana Fix of the Council on Foreign Relations; two "B"s on Indo-Pacific relations from Bonnie S. Glaser of the German Marshall Fund and Michael J. Green of the University of Sydney; a "D" on Middle East relations from Lina Khatib of Chatham House and a "B-" from Steven A. Cook of the CFR; a "B+" on Global South engagement from C. Raja Mohan of the Asia Society Policy Institute and a "C-" from Kamissa Carrera visiting at the United States Institute of Peace; two "A-"s on upholding existing alliances from former NATO Secretary Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Stacie Pettyjohn of the Center for a New American Security; a "B-" on defense policy from Schake and a "C-" from Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute; two "B-"s on global economic policy from economist Eswar Prasad of Cornell University and journalist Edward Alden visiting at Western Washington University; a "B+" on climate and energy policy from Ted Nordhaus of the Breakthrough Institute and an "A" from Alice C. Hill of the CFR; two "incomplete"s on immigration policy from former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda Gutman and entrepreneur Vivek Wadhwa; and two "C+"s on human rights promotion from Kenneth Roth formerly of Human Rights Watch and Emma Ashford of The Stimson Center.

See also

• Second Cold War
• List of international presidential trips made by Joe Biden
• List of international trips made by Antony Blinken as United States Secretary of State

Further reading

• "Biden's Midterm Report Card: We asked 20 experts to grade the administration's foreign policy after two years in office." Foreign Policy (January 19, 2023) online
  • "The Biden Progress Report: We asked 25 experts to grade the new team's start on foreign policy" Foreign Policy 00157228, (Spring 2021), Issue 240 online
• Wayne, Stephen J. The Biden Presidency: Politics, Policy, and Polarization (2023), first 18 months; see chapter 5 excerpt
• Whipple, Chris. The Fight of His Life: Inside Joe Biden's White House (Scribner, 2023) passim excerpt comprehensive history of first two years.

External links

• "America and the Taliban". Frontline. Season 41. Episode 12. April 4, 2023. PBS. WGBH. Retrieved October 6, 2023.