Biden’s presidency in 2022- A year to restore America’s leadership abroad!

Author- Adnan Pavel 

The author is a Senior Associate of The Young Foundation (UK), an Associate Fellow (Higher Education Academy, UK) and member of The American Political Science Association, Political Studies Association (UK), The Society for Political Methodology- Cambridge University Press and International Institute for Strategic Studies (UK).

Former British Prime minister Winston once famously said “America will always do the right thing, only after they try everything else”. Churchill’s famous observation still accurate to these days. Jumping into the naïve populist bandwagon to capitalise election victory wasn’t America’s leadership style until Sarah Palin and Donald Trump popped in. Too often these populist leaders forget that America can’t be constrained into a geographical boundary! The idea “America” that represents human dignity, freedom, economic emancipation, and rule of law transcends geographical boundaries and exhibit hope even to the remotest village in Africa or Asia or even in the war-torn zone in the Middle East. Upholding America’s ideologies and leadership globally isn’t job of just one president or one political party, it surpasses pity party politics. America hasn’t got everything right, it never had, and it never would but it is America’s character to exhibit steadfastness to remain as a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable and destitute.        

Any decision that reaches Biden’s desk is tough, even tougher than that of previous presidents. Biden administration faces tough choices at home including but not limited to polarised politics of division, economic havoc caused by the coronavirus pandemic and many more. Trump’s politics of isolation put America on the back foot internationally. Too many critics of America already started doubting America’s strengths. Trump’s submissive attitude towards Russia, China’s unchecked international proliferation of economic and political influence gave those critics more avenues to doubt America’s resilience.  Trump wanted to shake things in Washington D.C., which he notoriously called “drain the swamp” but, in reality he installed a complete cronyism in Washington. State Department endured cronyism and complacency more than any other departments during Trump administration. Writing rhetoric on Twitter is easier than actually implementing a well-coordinated and coherent foreign policy. Showing toughness on China should have been reflected on US’s commitment in strengthening strategic relationship with ASEAN member states but Trump didn’t join any of the ASEAN summit, let alone strengthening the relationship. Trump’s foreign policy was nothing short of demagoguery. Biden has already started recovering some of those damages, but he has a long way to go. America’s allies also must play their part and keep up with their financial and defence commitment. Maintaining economic progress, investing in research and science, upholding human rights, fight against tyranny is not only America’s responsibility, it is our collective commitment. Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, and all developed and advanced countries must chip in.      

America and its allies are not focused, to some context, disoriented and confused. Domestic issues take precedence but having a sound and functional society globally that is based on trust, mutual respect, human dignity is beneficial for America and its allies for maintaining their own national security, economic progress, and global influence. Biden has made substantial progress in fixing domestic issues through executive orders and through passing important legislatures like The Infrastructure Bill and pushing The Build Back Better Bill, but his legacy will be judged not by domestic agenda only but by also how he reinstalls America’s leadership globally.