Daily US Times: President Joe Biden promised a clean break from the previous administration on US foreign policies. But there will likely be more continuity than change, at least for a while, according to recent statements from the new president’s incoming secretary of state and other top officials.
It’s only three days Biden became US president, but his team members have already signaled they intend to continue several of the policies Mr Trump pursued during his presidency, from Ukraine to Venezuela to Israel and even China.
Many of these details about Biden administration’s foreign policies emerged during Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken’s confirmation hearing on Tuesday, one day before Biden was sworn in as president.
Blinken said the United States would continue to recognize Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela, a decision the former Trump administration made in January 2019 as part of its effort to depose Nicolás Maduro. Blinken added that the new team would also continue to sanction dictator Maduro and his government, only “more effectively.”
Biden administration will continue training and sending lethal weapons to Ukraine’s military as it tries to fend off Russian forces in the country’s east, Mr Blinken also said.
The incoming top diplomat said Biden will oppose the completion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany. In 2009, the Trump administration sanctioned Russia over the plan, claiming the $11 billion oil-delivery system would make the heart of Europe more dependent on Moscow.
Biden, who officials say is not planning any kind of “reset” of relations with Russia anytime soon, seems to agree.
You may read: Some GOP leaders want Trump gone and quietly lobby him to convict
