America in the World

Joe Biden points to continuation of Bush's missile defence policy and new spirit of partnership in US foreign policy

In the first major foreign policy speech of the Obama administration, Vice President Joe Biden has addressed the annual Munich Security Conference:

Promising a new spirit of cooperation and a new tone, pasted below are key extracts of Mr Biden's remarks:

The five top challenges facing our young century:

1. "The spread of mass destruction weapons and dangerous diseases;
2. A growing gap between rich and poor;
3. Ethnic animosities and failed states;
4. A rapidly warming planet and uncertain supplies of energy, food, water;
5. The challenge to freedom and security from radical fundamentalism."

America will compromise its ideals in delivering security

"America will not torture. We will uphold the rights of those we bring to justice. And we will close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. Tough choices lie ahead. As we seek a lasting framework for our common struggle against extremism, we will have to work cooperatively with nations around the world – and we will need your help. For example, we will be asking others to take responsibility for some of those now at Guantanamo. Our security is shared. So, too, is our responsibility to defend it."

Iran can come out of the cold if it gives up its nuclear programme

"We are willing to talk to Iran, and to offer a very clear choice: continue down your current course and there will be pressure and isolation; abandon your illicit nuclear program and support for terrorism and there will be meaningful incentives."

America will defeat Islamic extremists as it offers friendship to the Muslim world

"In the Muslim world, a small number of violent extremists are beyond the call of reason. We will defeat them. But hundreds of millions of hearts and minds share the values we hold dear. We will reach them. President Obama has made clear that we will seek a new way forward based on mutual interest and mutual respect. It was not by accident that he gave his very first interview as President to Al-Arabiya.

[Earlier this week Hillary Clinton announced that her first foreign trip would be to a Muslim nation; Indonesia].

President Bush's missile defence programme will continue

"We will continue to develop missile defenses to counter a growing Iranian capability, provided the technology is proven to work and cost effective."

America will support a stronger defence role for the EU

"We also support the further strengthening of European defense, an increased role for the European Union in preserving peace and security, a fundamentally stronger NATO-EU partnership and deeper cooperation with countries outside the Alliance who share our common goals and principles."

We do not recognise a Russian 'sphere of influence'

"The United States will not recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states. We will not recognize a sphere of influence. It will remain our view that sovereign states have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own alliances."

> Full speech here.

Barack Obama seeks extension of NATO and more commitment from European powers to Afghanistan

Barack Obama’s foreign policy document setting forth his strategy towards Europe (PDF) outlines an approach that is supportive of NATO, engaged economically with European economies and mindful of the threat of rogue states.

For an organisation dedicated to American engagement with the world and opposed to anti-Americanism, none of the documents available at BarackObama.com could be more relevant than ‘A stronger partnership with Europe for a Safer America’. As is typical of any political statements, there are a number of sentences with which almost no one would disagree – and so not especially telling as any indicator of policy. But in places the document goes further. Without outlining many specific policies, it provides some guide to the policy approach the presumptive Democratic candidate would aim to follow if elected President.

NATO and Afghanistan
Straightforwardly positive statements on NATO’s role - “Barack Obama believes that a strong NATO brings peace and security to Europe and helps the United States meet security challenges around the world” – are mixed with pledges that “Barack Obama will ask more of our European friends”. This will be applied to Afghanistan specifically (a “critically important mission”):

“Obama will expect allies to commit more resources to this common mission and to remove some of the limits on what their troops in country can do. Barack Obama has called for the deployment of at least two additional brigades of U.S. troops to Afghanistan and would expect that to be matched by enhanced contributions from our NATO allies.”

This expectation that strong and continuing American support for NATO be twinned with greater European support is fair and welcome. Such positive language is a sign that Obama's response to the often justified feeling that Europe is not pulling its weight will be diplomatic pressure on Europe to do more, rather than America reducing her own commitment. Left unanswered is how America will react if, having made this request, many NATO allies persist with low levels of military commitment and spending.