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.
Along with her marketing campaign revving up, many are beginning to marvel what a attainable Harris presidency might 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 without doubt 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 Overseas Relations Committee. He then had two phrases main crucial international coverage initiatives as Barack Obama’s vp.
As president, Biden has deepened and broadened America’s engagement with its allies and companions around the globe. This has included reaffirming US help 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 nations 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.
Harris, alternatively, entered the White Home with little international coverage expertise of her personal. As vp, she has realized on the job, notably by means of her travels to greater than 20 nations and conferences with over 150 world leaders.
Alessandro Della Valle/Pool/EPA
Harris’ international coverage outlook seems to align with Biden’s internationalist strategy, albeit with a extra progressive inclination in some areas.
She views US-led post-war international 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 vp, Harris has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky half-a-dozen instances. She has stepped in for Biden at three annual Munich Safety Conferences — one of the crucial essential worldwide safety summits.
At this yr’s convention, she pledged the US would help Ukraine for “so long as it takes”.
In response to 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 just 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 identified”.
A agency dedication to US allies in Asia
Not surprisingly, Harris shares lots of the similar priorities as Biden, together with his robust dedication to US allies in Asia.
As Biden’s second-in-command, nonetheless, 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 nations have a pact to return to one another’s defence if they’re attacked.
On Taiwan, Biden has been specific a number of instances in his presidency concerning 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, as an example, pressured the US “will proceed to help Taiwan’s self-defence, in step with our long-standing coverage”. She is unlikely to be susceptible to Biden’s gaffes on Taiwan as president.
Variations with Biden
Harris would possible differ from Biden in different methods, too.
For instance, Harris has been described as having a extra “empathetic” strategy to Israel’s struggle in Gaza.
Harris was one of many administration’s first high-profile voices to name for a right away momentary 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 handle the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
As president, Harris might reveal a larger 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 preferred.
After assembly Netanyahu in Washington in late July, as an 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 NAFTA and felt the TPP didn’t adequately defend American employees 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 unsure, as an example, because of Democratic issues it could damage American employees — 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 rapidly gained on-the-ground expertise. However getting into the position of US chief government 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.
