Biden declares 'America is back' as he announces major foreign policy shifts
By Nicole Gaouette, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood, CNN
Updated 3:38 PM ET, Thu February 4, 2021Washington (CNN)President Joe Biden announced 'America is back' and declared 'diplomacy is back at the center' of US foreign policy as he announced the US will end all support for offensive operations in Yemen and will appoint an envoy to focus on the long-standing conflict, one of several changes he announced in his first major foreign policy speech since taking office.
Biden's announcement at the State Department was just one of the significant changes he said he will make to US foreign policy, including a freeze on troop redeployments from Germany, and raising the cap for refugees allowed into the US.
Biden delivered his speech after making less formal remarks to State Department employees, telling them "we're going rebuild our alliances. We're going reengage the world and take on the enormous challenges we face dealing with the pandemic, dealing with global warming and again standing up for democracy and human rights around the world."
The President, who visited the State Department Thursday with Vice President Kamala Harris, used the speech not only to unveil policy changes, fulfill campaign promises and reverse Trump administration policies, but also to reassert US global leadership and realign foreign policy to better service the middle class.
"Everything" the Biden administration does when it comes to foreign policy will be examined as to whether it makes life "better, safer and easier for working families," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in a briefing to preview the President's remarks.
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https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/04/politics/biden-state-department-visit/index.html
