Now that US Vice President Kamala Harris has sewn up the Democratic presidential nomination, she has a busy few weeks forward of her. After she broadcasts her vice-presidential operating mate, the pair will marketing campaign in seven swing states in 4 days. Then comes the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago, beginning on August 19.
Together with her marketing campaign revving up, many are beginning to marvel what a doable Harris presidency may imply for the world if she beats Republican Donald Trump in November. And the way may it differ from President Joe Biden’s time in workplace?
Rejecting isolationism
Biden is likely one of the most skilled international coverage fingers to have served as president. He spent 36 years within the Senate, together with 30 years on the influential Senate International Relations Committee. He then had two phrases main crucial international coverage initiatives as Barack Obama’s vice chairman.
As president, Biden has deepened and broadened America’s engagement with its allies and companions all over the world. This has included reaffirming US assist for NATO and Ukraine, forging the AUKUS pact with the UK and Australia, and elevating the Quad diplomatic grouping between the US, Australia, India and Japan to counter China’s rising affect within the Indo-Pacific area.
The Biden administration additionally launched the Indo-Pacific Financial Framework, an financial partnership involving the US and 13 international locations in Asia and the Pacific. It seeks to re-engage the US economically within the area following Trump’s 2017 withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Harris, then again, entered the White Home with little international coverage expertise of her personal. As vice chairman, she has learnt on the job, notably by way of her travels to greater than 20 international locations and conferences with over 150 world leaders.
Harris’ international coverage outlook seems to align with Biden’s internationalist method, albeit with a extra progressive inclination in some areas.
She views US-led post-war world establishments and norms because the nation’s best international coverage achievement, and has cautioned towards requires the US to tug again from its commitments on the worldwide stage.
For instance, in her time as vice chairman, Harris has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy half-a-dozen occasions. She has stepped in for Biden at three annual Munich Safety Conferences — probably the most necessary worldwide safety summits.
At this yr’s convention, she pledged the US would assist Ukraine for “so long as it takes”.
In line with experiences, Harris additionally helped negotiate the landmark US-Russia prisoner-swap deal throughout a closed-door assembly with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at this yr’s Munich Safety Convention.
And extra lately, Harris pushed again on Trump’s declare that he would pull the US out of NATO, describing it as “the best navy alliance the world has ever recognized”.
A agency dedication to US allies in Asia
Not surprisingly, Harris shares most of the similar priorities as Biden, together with his sturdy dedication to US allies in Asia.
As Biden’s second-in-command, nevertheless, Harris has carved out her personal area of interest in international affairs. For example, she has devoted time to America’s oft-neglected relationships in South-East Asia. She has stepped in for Biden at many regional summits together with the East Asia and US-ASEAN summits in 2023.
Harris additionally stepped in for Biden on the 2022 Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit, assembly briefly with Chinese language President Xi Jinping.
Maybe extra importantly, on that very same journey, she made a really seen present of the USA’ dedication to the Philippines amid its heightened tensions with China.
Stopping on the island of Palawan, Harris mentioned the US would stand by its ally to uphold “the rules-based worldwide maritime order within the South China Sea”. It was a crucial declaration given the 2 international locations have a pact to return to one another’s defence if they’re attacked.
On Taiwan, Biden has been express a number of occasions in his presidency in regards to the US coming to the island’s defence if it was invaded by China. He has taken a a lot stronger stance than earlier presidents, although his aides have repeatedly tried to stroll again his feedback.
Harris has caught extra to the script. She has, for example, confused the US “will proceed to assist Taiwan’s self-defence, according to our long-standing coverage”. She is unlikely to be susceptible to Biden’s gaffes on Taiwan as president.
Variations with Biden
Harris would doubtless differ from Biden in different methods, too.
For instance, Harris has been described as having a extra “empathetic” method to Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
Harris was one of many administration’s first high-profile voices to name for an instantaneous short-term ceasefire in March. She has described the civilian loss of life toll in Gaza as a “humanitarian disaster”.
She has additionally reportedly privately urged Biden to take a stronger stance towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deal with the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
As president, Harris might reveal a better willingness than her predecssor to publicly criticise Netanyahu. Biden has described himself as a Zionist and defended Israel extra stridently than progressive Democrats would have favored.
After assembly Netanyahu in Washington in late July, for example, Harris mentioned: “We can not permit ourselves to be numb to the struggling and I cannot be silent.”
Commerce stays one other space the place Harris might differ from Biden. She has expressed scepticism about free commerce relationship again to her Senate run in 2016. Throughout that race, she opposed the Trans-Pacific Partnership — then a landmark accomplishment of the Obama-Biden administration.
Harris denied she was a “protectionist Democrat” throughout her 2020 presidential marketing campaign. Nevertheless, she mentioned she wouldn’t have voted for North American Free Commerce Settlement and felt the TPP failed to adequately shield American staff or environmental requirements.
A Harris administration will not be as divided on commerce points because the Biden administration has been. The way forward for the Indo-Pacific Financial Framework has been doubtful, for example, as a consequence of Democratic considerations it could harm American staff — echoing Harris’ criticisms of different commerce agreements.
Although Harris began with a skinny international coverage CV, in her three years as Biden’s loyal deputy she has shortly gained on-the-ground expertise. However getting into the function of US chief govt could be a chance for her to stamp her personal mark on international coverage and America’s standing on the worldwide stage.
However, if Harris wins in November, the world can anticipate to see extra continuity than change.
This story was first revealed in The Dialog.
